The use of personalized poems in palliative care: one Japanese health professional’s experience

Facing a terminal illness is stressful and difficult for patients and their families. Compared with routine medical care, palliative care often requires intense individual attention. Art therapy is sometimes useful in such cases. In this comment piece I discuss the use of personalized poems. In my work with patients who have advanced malignancy, I have found poetry to be a valuable tool in caring for patients and families.