Palliative care

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their informal caregivers facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness or frailty. The aim of palliative care is to achieve good quality of life by prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of symptoms, physical, psychosocial and spiritual 

Palliative care research 

IKNL contributes to the continuous improvement of palliative care in the Netherlands by means of registries and research. Insights and knowledge of the practice of palliative care in the Netherlands enables healthcare professionals to optimize palliative care in the Netherlands according to the Netherlands Quality Framework for Palliative Care (Kwaliteitskader Palliatieve Zorg). The focus of our research is: 

  • Experiences of patients and informal caregivers 

  • End-of-life care 

  • Organization of palliative care