Final answer:
The main goal of hospice is the care of an individual, emphasizing pain management and comfort, whereas the main goal of a hospital is the cure of an individual, often through aggressive life-prolonging treatments. The answer to the question is 'a. care; cure'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main goal of hospice is care of the individual through pain management, support, and education. The main goal of a hospital is cure of the individual through prolonging life at all costs. The correct answer to fill in the blanks would be 'a. care; cure'.
Hospice provides comfort during the dying process, focusing on allowing a person to die with dignity and ease, rather than seeking to cure a person's terminal illness. Hospitals, on the other hand, generally aim to extend life, often through aggressive treatments and interventions, even in terminal cases.
Research has shown that hospice care is beneficial for both the patient and their family, offering increased support and more comfortable, personalized care in the final stages of life. Moreover, hospice can lead to longer survival and greater satisfaction among terminally ill patients compared to non-hospice settings.