緩和ケア

• 読み: かんわケア
• ローマ字: kanwa kea
• 漢字の分解: 緩 (kan) — slow, loose, mild; 和 (wa) — harmony, soften, Japan; ケア — loanword from English 'care'
• 発音: /ka.n.wa keː.a/

意味

Palliative care; medical care focused on relieving pain and improving quality of life for patients with serious illness.

Refers to a holistic approach to care that prioritises comfort, dignity, and quality of life rather than curative treatment. Particularly relevant in terminal illness. In Japan, 緩和ケア病棟 (palliative care ward) is a recognised clinical setting. The term blends Japanese 緩和 (mitigation/relief) with the loanword ケア (care), reflecting the international origins of the concept.

例文

1. 末期がんの診断後、担当医から緩和ケアについての説明があった。
2. 緩和ケアは痛みを和らげるだけでなく、精神的なサポートも行う。
3. 緩和ケア病棟では、患者が尊厳を持って最期を迎えられるよう支援する。

使い方ガイド

場面: medicine, oncology, end-of-life care, hospice, nursing

トーン: compassionate

起源と歴史

A hybrid term combining 緩和 (kanwa, mitigation/relief) from Sino-Japanese and ケア (kea), borrowed from English 'care'. Introduced into Japanese medical terminology in the late twentieth century alongside the international hospice movement.

文化的背景

時代: Contemporary

世代: Adults

社会的背景: General