Original article
End-of-life care: Portugal in the European project PRISMA
Pedro Lopes Ferreira a,∗, Bárbara Antunes b,d, Ana Barros Pinto c e
Bárbara Gomes d
a Faculdade de Economia, Universidade de Coimbra, Centro de Estudos e
Investigação em Saúde da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra,
Portugal
b Unidade de Psicologia da Dor, Centro de Estudos e Investigação em Saúde,
Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
c Unidade de Oncologia, Hospital Santa Maria, EPE
d Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders
Institute, King’s College, Londres, Reino Unido
Abstract
In Europe, there is a growing need for end-of-life care and for a definition of
priorities for clinical practice and research in this health area. This article aims to
present the activities of PRISMA (2008-2011), a project funded by the European
Commission and led by King’s College London, involving an African partner and 12
European partners, including two in Portugal.
It was intended to inform improvements in clinical practice and harmonising the
research carried out in end-of-life care for cancer patients in Europe, by comparing
approaches, experiences and priorities.