Intensity of end-of-life care among children with life-threatening conditions: a national population-based observational study
Child; Only Child; Terminal Care
Background Children with life-threatening conditions frequently experience high intensity care at the end of life, though most of this research only focused on children with cancer. Some research suggests inequities in care provided based on age, disease type, socioeconomic status, and distance that the child lives from a tertiary hospital. We examined: 1) the prevalence of indicators of high intensity end-of-life care (e.g., hospital stays, intensive care unit [ICU] stays, death in ICU, use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR], use of mechanical ventilation) and 2) the association between demographic and diagnostic factors and each indicator for children with any life-threatening condition in Canada. Methods We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using linked health administrative data to examine care provided in the last 14, 30, and 90 days of life to children who died between 3 months and 19 years of age from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2014 from any underlying life-threatening medical condition. Logistic regression was used to model the association between demographic and diagnostic variables and each indicator of high intensity end-of-life care except number of hospital days where negative binomial regression was used. Results Across 2435 child decedents, the most common diagnoses included neurology (51.1%), oncology (38.0%), and congenital illness (35.9%), with 50.9% of children having diagnoses in three or more categories. In the last 30 days of life, 42.5% (n = 1035) of the children had an ICU stay and 36.1% (n = 880) died in ICU. Children with cancer had lower odds of an ICU stay (OR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.36–0.62) and ICU death (OR = 0.37; 95%CI = 0.28–0.50) than children with any other diagnoses. Children with 3 or more diagnoses (vs. 1 diagnosis) had higher odds of > 1 hospital stay in the last 30 days of life (OR = 2.08; 95%CI = 1.29–3.35). Living > 400 km (vs < 50 km) from a tertiary pediatric hospital was associated with higher odds of multiple hospitalizations (OR = 2.09; 95%CI = 1.33–3.33). Conclusion High intensity end of life care is prevalent in children who die from life threatening conditions, particularly those with a non-cancer diagnosis. Further research is needed to understand and identify opportunities to enhance care across disease groups.
Widger K; Brennenstuhl S; Nelson KE; Seow H; Rapoport A; Siden H; Vadeboncoeur C; Gupta S; Tanuseputro P
BMC Pediatrics
2023
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-04186-9%5C">10.1186/s12887-023-04186-9\</a>"
Location of death among children with life-threatening conditions: a national population-based observational study using the Canadian Vital Statistics Database (2008-2014)
Humans; Child; Retrospective Studies; Infant Newborn; Hospital Mortality; Ontario; Palliative Care; Hospitalization; Only Child
BACKGROUND: Patterns in location of death among children with life-threatening conditions (e.g., cancer, genetic disorders, neurologic conditions) may reveal important inequities in access to hospital and community support services. We aimed to identify demographic, socioeconomic and geographic factors associated with variations in location of death for children across Canada with life-threatening conditions. METHODS: We used a retrospective observational cohort design and the Canadian Vital Statistics Database to identify children aged 19 years or younger who died from a life-threatening condition between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2014. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine predictors of in-hospital death for children aged 1 month to 19 years, and for neonates younger than 1 month. RESULTS: Overall, 13 115 decedents younger than 19 years had life-threatening conditions. Of 5250 children and 7865 neonates, 74.2% and 98.1%, respectively, died in hospital. Among children, we found a higher proportion of hospital deaths in the lowest (v. highest) income quintile (odds ratio [OR] 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-1.97), and a lower proportion among children living more than 400 km (v. < 50 km) from a pediatric hospital (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.65-0.86). Compared with Ontario, hospital death was most common in Quebec (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.14-1.67) and least common in British Columbia (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.34-0.53). Compared with an oncologic cause of death, all causes except neurologic and metabolic conditions had significantly higher odds of dying in hospital. INTERPRETATION: In addition to demographics, we identified socioeconomic and geographic differences in location of death, suggesting potential inequities in access to high-quality care at the end of life. Health care policies and practices must ensure equitable access to services for children across Canada, particularly at the end of their life.
Widger K; Brennenstuhl S; Tanuseputro P; Nelson KE; Rapoport A; Seow H; Siden H; Vadeboncoeur C; Gupta S
CMAJ Open
2023
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="https://www.cmajopen.ca/content/11/2/E298">10.9778/cmajo.20220070</a>
National Impact of the EPEC-Pediatrics Enhanced Train-the-Trainer Model for Delivering Education on Pediatric Palliative Care
Abstract Background: Lack of pediatric palliative care (PPC) training impedes successful integration of PPC principles into pediatric oncology. Objectives: We examined the impact of an enhanced implementation of the Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Pediatrics (EPEC?-Pediatrics) curriculum on the following: (1) knowledge dissemination; (2) health professionals' knowledge; (3) practice change; and (4) quality of PPC. Design: An integrated knowledge translation approach was used with pre-/posttest evaluation of care quality. Setting/Subjects/Measurements: Regional Teams of 3?6 health professionals based at 15 pediatric oncology programs in Canada became EPEC-Pediatrics Trainers who taught the curriculum to health professionals (learners) and implemented quality improvement (QI) projects. Trainers recorded the number of learners at each education session and progress on QI goals. Learners completed knowledge surveys. Care quality was assessed through surveys with a cross-sectional sample of children with cancer and their parents about symptoms, quality of life, and care quality plus reviews of deceased patients' health records. Results: Seventy-two Trainers taught 3475 learners; the majority (96.7%) agreed that their PPC knowledge improved. In addition, 10/15 sites achieved practice change QI goals. The only improvements in care quality were an increased number of days from referral to PPC teams until death by a factor of 1.54 (95% confidence interval [CI]?=?1.17?2.03) and from first documentation of advance care planning until death by a factor of 1.50 (95% CI?=?1.06?2.11), after adjusting for background variables. Conclusion: While improvements in care quality were only seen in two areas, our approach was highly effective in achieving knowledge dissemination, knowledge improvement, and practice change goals.
Widger K; Wolfe J; Friedrichsdorf S; Pole JD; Brennenstuhl S; Liben S; Greenberg M; Bouffet E; Siden H; Husain A; Whitlock JA; Leyden M; Rapoport A
Journal of Palliative Medicine
2018
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here.
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2017.0532" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1089/jpm.2017.0532</a>
National Impact of the EPEC-Pediatrics Enhanced Train-the-Trainer Model for Delivering Education on Pediatric Palliative Care
cancer palliative therapy;childhood cancer;medical education;Pediatrics;Advance care planning;article;Canada;Child;clinical practice;health care quality;health practitioner;Human;professional knowledge;quality of life;self care;tertiary care center;total quality management
Abstract Background: Lack of pediatric palliative care (PPC) training impedes successful integration of PPC principles into pediatric oncology. Objectives: We examined the impact of an enhanced implementation of the Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Pediatrics (EPEC?-Pediatrics) curriculum on the following: (1) knowledge dissemination; (2) health professionals' knowledge; (3) practice change; and (4) quality of PPC. Design: An integrated knowledge translation approach was used with pre-/posttest evaluation of care quality. Setting/Subjects/Measurements: Regional Teams of 3?6 health professionals based at 15 pediatric oncology programs in Canada became EPEC-Pediatrics Trainers who taught the curriculum to health professionals (learners) and implemented quality improvement (QI) projects. Trainers recorded the number of learners at each education session and progress on QI goals. Learners completed knowledge surveys. Care quality was assessed through surveys with a cross-sectional sample of children with cancer and their parents about symptoms, quality of life, and care quality plus reviews of deceased patients' health records. Results: Seventy-two Trainers taught 3475 learners; the majority (96.7%) agreed that their PPC knowledge improved. In addition, 10/15 sites achieved practice change QI goals. The only improvements in care quality were an increased number of days from referral to PPC teams until death by a factor of 1.54 (95% confidence interval [CI]?=?1.17?2.03) and from first documentation of advance care planning until death by a factor of 1.50 (95% CI?=?1.06?2.11), after adjusting for background variables. Conclusion: While improvements in care quality were only seen in two areas, our approach was highly effective in achieving knowledge dissemination, knowledge improvement, and practice change goals.
Widger K;Wolfe J;Friedrichsdorf S;Pole JD;Brennenstuhl S;Liben S;Greenberg M;Bouffet E;Siden H;Husain A;Whitlock JA;Leyden M;Rapoport A
Journal of Palliative Medicine
2018
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2017.0532" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1089/jpm.2017.0532</a>