Suffering—background Clinicians commonly see the alleviation of their patients' suffering as one of the principal aims of their clinical work. Public health specialists adopt a similar view. For example, the World Health Organisation website includes >10,000 references to 'suffering'. Crucially, the alleviation of suffering is not the same as alleviation of symptoms. Some interventions may alle...

abstract background: thalassemia major is the most common hereditary anemia in iran. thalassemia major patients require lifelong care and suffer much pain during self-care. knowledge of the nature, meaning, and impact of suffering from the perspective of patients is needed to determine which interventions are helpful. this study was designed to understand the experience of suffering in patients...

There was a time when waiters would try to shoo away the cheeky house sparrows (Passer domesticus) that flit around European sidewalk cafés in search of crumbs. Where I live, at least, they now seem have given up: outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and with any scant success reversed by patrons who toss birds tidbits. It's dynamic holds mirror our love–hate relationship these little creatures (Figure ...