Table 2 Interventions which are typical of PPC that can implemented within APC service

·Earlier referral to PC service

·Early detection of needs and planning of appropriate therapies

·Simultaneity with disease-specific treatment

·Reassuring the patient on continuity of care

·Better coping with cumbersome/painful but potentially curative treatments

·Better definition of prognosis in complicated cases

·Some specific treatments may retain a palliative role in late stages (e.g. radiotherapy)

·Integration of PC service with community (e.g., schools, workplace, religious community)

·Prevention of social isolation

·Preserving social, working or family role of the patient

·Community, “lay” caregivers may integrate medical-centered PC service

·A dynamic network of PC

·May consent a better matching of time-changing needs of patients during the course of complicated diseases

·May help patients with “break-through” symptoms to gain new stability and coming back home

·Respite care

·It can help families to cope with cumbersome situations

·Increases the chance of patients with difficult symptoms to be managed at home