ABSC 519 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS STUDY GUIDE &
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026/2027
What are the differences between hospice care and palliative care? When is each appropriate? -
Correct answer ✔✔ Hospice care and palliative care are both forms of specialized medical care
aimed at improving the quality of life. Hospice care is focused on providing comfort and support
to patients who do not have very long left to live. The primary goal of hospice care is to ensure
that these patients are comfortable and free from pain. Palliative care focuses on providing
relief from symptoms and stress of a serious illness regarding the patients treatment. The goal
of palliative care is to improve the patients quality of life by addressing physical symptoms as
well as psychological symptoms. Hospice care is appropriate for patients who have a life
expectancy of about 6 months or less while palliative care is appropriate for patients with
serious illnesses at any stage of their illness.
Describe specific barriers to adequate end of life care (See Hawley et al., 2017). - Correct answer
✔✔ Hawley's article addresses several barriers to adequate end of life care. For example,
limited access to palliative care services, misconceptions and stigma surrounding it,
communication and information sharing barriers, financial, and cultural concerns.
Describe Coetzee and Laschinger's (2017) model of compassion fatigue discussed in class. -
Correct answer ✔✔ Coetzee and Laschinger's model provides a framework for understanding
the factors that lead to compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals. Compassion fatigue
relates to emotional and physical exhaustion and a decreased sense of self-accomplishments
experienced by those who provide care to others. The model highlights the many different
factors that play into individual characteristics, work environment factors, and coping
mechanisms within the development of compassion fatigue. When these factors are identified,
healthcare professionals can implemented targetted interventions and support systems to
promote the well-being of other healthcare professionals.
Is "detached concern" a good thing or a bad thing in helping professions? How do you know?
(e.g., what models or evidence can you point to?) - Correct answer ✔✔ When thinking of
detached concern, it depends on various factors in terms of whether it is a good thing or bad
, thing. In some healthcare professions, maintaining a degree of detached concern can be
essential to avoid burnout and to effectively do their job. With this, a lack of detached concern
can lead to a lack of empathy and a lack of connection with patients. I think that detached
concern can be beneficial when it comes to patient to patients interactions as long as the
healthcare professional is able to maintain boundaries.
Using information presented in class and/or in the readings, describe the groups that might be
at greatest risk for suicide. - Correct answer ✔✔ Going back to the information presented in
class, the first group that comes to mind are individuals diagnosed with a mental illness or
illnesses of other sorts. People that are diagnosed with depression, PTSD, bipolar, etc, are at an
elevated risk for suicide as these conditions cause immense emotional distress. Another group
that comes to mind when thinking about the readings are individuals experiencing chronic pain
or others related. These individuals are at an increased level of suicide due to persistant
suffering. It can also be healthcare related or these individuals wanting to be "put out of their
misery" due to the pain.
Describe Joiner's interpersonal model of suicide risk. - Correct answer ✔✔ Within joiners model
of suicide risk, and as discussed in the ALA, there are three key components. Thwarted
Belongingness, which refers to feelings of isolation and disconnected from others. Perceived
Burdensomeness, which is the perception of being a burden to others. The last, being acquired
capability for suicide, meaning that individuals will expose themselves to fear and pain
associated with self-harm or death. This exposure makes the individual more likely to engage in
suicidal acts. These three combined increase the individuals vulnerability to suicidal behavior.
What is the Werther effect? And what evidence does Fehey et al. (2018) provide in support of
this idea? - Correct answer ✔✔ The Werther effect is where exposure to media coverage or
publicized suicides can lead to an increase in suicide rates. For example, the Taylor Swift
conversation we had in class. Fehey conducted a study over the Werther effect and the results
indicated that there is a significant correlation between media coverage of suicide and then
suicide rates after. More speciafically, soon after the suicide occurs. Fehey provides that
irresponsible media coverage can contribute to a spike in rates or "normalizing" the situation.
What specific death-related concepts were addressed in the Sesame Workshop video about
Elmo and his Uncle Jack? (video sent to you in announcements and in slides) - Correct answer
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026/2027
What are the differences between hospice care and palliative care? When is each appropriate? -
Correct answer ✔✔ Hospice care and palliative care are both forms of specialized medical care
aimed at improving the quality of life. Hospice care is focused on providing comfort and support
to patients who do not have very long left to live. The primary goal of hospice care is to ensure
that these patients are comfortable and free from pain. Palliative care focuses on providing
relief from symptoms and stress of a serious illness regarding the patients treatment. The goal
of palliative care is to improve the patients quality of life by addressing physical symptoms as
well as psychological symptoms. Hospice care is appropriate for patients who have a life
expectancy of about 6 months or less while palliative care is appropriate for patients with
serious illnesses at any stage of their illness.
Describe specific barriers to adequate end of life care (See Hawley et al., 2017). - Correct answer
✔✔ Hawley's article addresses several barriers to adequate end of life care. For example,
limited access to palliative care services, misconceptions and stigma surrounding it,
communication and information sharing barriers, financial, and cultural concerns.
Describe Coetzee and Laschinger's (2017) model of compassion fatigue discussed in class. -
Correct answer ✔✔ Coetzee and Laschinger's model provides a framework for understanding
the factors that lead to compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals. Compassion fatigue
relates to emotional and physical exhaustion and a decreased sense of self-accomplishments
experienced by those who provide care to others. The model highlights the many different
factors that play into individual characteristics, work environment factors, and coping
mechanisms within the development of compassion fatigue. When these factors are identified,
healthcare professionals can implemented targetted interventions and support systems to
promote the well-being of other healthcare professionals.
Is "detached concern" a good thing or a bad thing in helping professions? How do you know?
(e.g., what models or evidence can you point to?) - Correct answer ✔✔ When thinking of
detached concern, it depends on various factors in terms of whether it is a good thing or bad
, thing. In some healthcare professions, maintaining a degree of detached concern can be
essential to avoid burnout and to effectively do their job. With this, a lack of detached concern
can lead to a lack of empathy and a lack of connection with patients. I think that detached
concern can be beneficial when it comes to patient to patients interactions as long as the
healthcare professional is able to maintain boundaries.
Using information presented in class and/or in the readings, describe the groups that might be
at greatest risk for suicide. - Correct answer ✔✔ Going back to the information presented in
class, the first group that comes to mind are individuals diagnosed with a mental illness or
illnesses of other sorts. People that are diagnosed with depression, PTSD, bipolar, etc, are at an
elevated risk for suicide as these conditions cause immense emotional distress. Another group
that comes to mind when thinking about the readings are individuals experiencing chronic pain
or others related. These individuals are at an increased level of suicide due to persistant
suffering. It can also be healthcare related or these individuals wanting to be "put out of their
misery" due to the pain.
Describe Joiner's interpersonal model of suicide risk. - Correct answer ✔✔ Within joiners model
of suicide risk, and as discussed in the ALA, there are three key components. Thwarted
Belongingness, which refers to feelings of isolation and disconnected from others. Perceived
Burdensomeness, which is the perception of being a burden to others. The last, being acquired
capability for suicide, meaning that individuals will expose themselves to fear and pain
associated with self-harm or death. This exposure makes the individual more likely to engage in
suicidal acts. These three combined increase the individuals vulnerability to suicidal behavior.
What is the Werther effect? And what evidence does Fehey et al. (2018) provide in support of
this idea? - Correct answer ✔✔ The Werther effect is where exposure to media coverage or
publicized suicides can lead to an increase in suicide rates. For example, the Taylor Swift
conversation we had in class. Fehey conducted a study over the Werther effect and the results
indicated that there is a significant correlation between media coverage of suicide and then
suicide rates after. More speciafically, soon after the suicide occurs. Fehey provides that
irresponsible media coverage can contribute to a spike in rates or "normalizing" the situation.
What specific death-related concepts were addressed in the Sesame Workshop video about
Elmo and his Uncle Jack? (video sent to you in announcements and in slides) - Correct answer
