The Influence of Religious Intervention on the Quality of Palliative Care

The essence of human life&s;s existence is a natural process within the limited boundaries of human cognition. Individuals&s; cultural and religious backgrounds drive their attitudes toward life and death. Over the past years, healthcare systems around the world have expanded palliative care services by establishing palliative care units and launching various community palliative care programmes to increase availability and accessibility for local communities. In response to the ageing population, there is a need for the Hong Kong healthcare system to focus on chronic diseases, particularly palliative care and end of life care. This chapter will provide a general overview and compare the four main religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Catholicism, and Islam, and will help us understand the influence of religious intervention on the quality of palliative care in Hong Kong. It could provide thoughtful insights for healthcare professionals and caregivers, who can integrate their understanding of different religions on palliative care into future healthcare treatment for their patients.