International experts discuss optimal end-of-life patient care at UIC

In the framework of the 1st International Workshop on End-of-Life Care, organized by the WeCare Chair: End-of-Life Care and inaugurated by Health Minister Boi Ruiz

Barcelona, December 3, 2013 – On Friday and Saturday, professors and researchers from fifteen European universities gathered at the International University of Catalonia (UIC) to discuss improving patient care at the end of life. These experts, from various parts of Europe such as Trondheim, Amsterdam, Munich, Madrid, Brussels, and Cologne, worked on designing strategies for detecting suffering related to the desire to hasten death during the 1st International Workshop on End-of-Life Care. The international symposium was inaugurated by the Health Minister of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Hon. Mr. Boi Ruiz, as the official presentation of the WeCare Chair, established last February at the UIC Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The WeCare Chair aims to generate knowledge about the needs and care of people with advanced illnesses at the end of life and their families, with the goal of contributing to the prevention and treatment of patient problems. Supported by the funeral services company Àltima, it is co-directed by Dr. Cristina Monforte, Director of Nursing at UIC, and Dr. Josep Porta, Professor of Medicine at UIC and Head of the Palliative Care Research Service at the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO).

Dr. Josep Porta emphasized that “the WeCare Chair ultimately aims to assist patients with advanced pathological conditions, who will benefit from the knowledge provided by the research lines. It will also benefit the families and caregivers of these patients, health professionals who will receive training to care for them, and young researchers who will be able to conduct their projects and doctoral theses.”

According to Dr. Cristina Monforte, “the desire to die in patients is a response to a global suffering that needs to be explored and addressed. We are designing tools to detect this suffering earlier and better, and we are also working on various strategies that can practically help the patient. There is much to be done, but we are excited to contribute with tangible solutions to patient and family care in these delicate circumstances.”

For his part, Josep Ventura, General Director of Àltima, highlighted that WeCare “is a chair committed to research to alleviate suffering in the final stage of life. This university chair is the best way to facilitate the creation and transfer of knowledge to society.”

The symposium on Friday, which concluded with a working workshop on Saturday, promoted the exchange of ideas and established agreements to continue working together in this field, now within an international collaboration network.