BACKGROUND: Pediatric medical experiences are potentially traumatic but may lead to psychological growth. OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to synthesize the published literature regarding posttraumatic growth (PTG) in parents and patients with…
BACKGROUND: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) aims to promote quality of life for children and their families through prevention and relief of physical and psychosocial symptoms. Little is known about how PPC/hospice services impact health care…
Abstract Background: There is increasing recognition of the value of advance care planning for children with life-limiting conditions. It is important that we acknowledge and reflect on the challenges that this work presents in order to optimize…
Abstract Background: There is a paucity of research evidence to guide health care providers' practice in pediatric palliative care. At the same time, some clinicians and Institutional Review Boards are reluctant to approve such studies because of…
Abstract Background: Despite parent and physician reports of inadequate skill development, there are few guidelines for training the pediatric care team in sharing life-altering information (SLAI), i.e., "breaking bad news." The necessary skills for…
Abstract Background: Missing data is a common phenomenon with survey-based research; patterns of missing data may elucidate why participants decline to answer certain questions. Objective: To describe patterns of missing data in the Pediatric Quality…
Abstract Background: The majority of young people in need of palliative care live in low- and middle-income countries, where curative treatment is less available. Objective: We systematically reviewed published data describing palliative care…
Abstract Background: Pediatric palliative care is a distinct specialty that requires input from pediatric and palliative medicine specialists to provide comprehensive high-quality care. Consultations undertaken early in a child's illness trajectory,…
Abstract Background: Outpatient palliative care services can improve patient outcomes, yet little is known about their structure and characteristics. Objective: To describe the structure and characteristics of outpatient palliative care services…
Abstract Background: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that palliative care be available to seriously ill hospitalized children, yet little is known about how these services are structured. Objective: The study's aim is to report the…
Abstract Background: Little is known about how physician and parent perspectives compare regarding the prognosis and end-of-life (EOL) experience of children with advanced heart disease (AHD). Objective: The study's objective was to describe and…
Background: Pediatric palliative care increasingly became integrated into health care institutions worldwide over the last decade. However, in Mexico and other developing countries with large populations of children, little is known regarding the…
Background: Most pediatric hospice patients receive services from agencies typically oriented to adults. Information regarding how pediatric hospice patients differ from adult hospice patients is lacking. Objective: We aim to assess differences…
Background: Nearly 2000 children die due to a malignancy in the United States annually. Emerging data suggest that home is the desired location of care for children with cancer at end of life. However, one obstacle to enrollment in a pediatric…
BACKGROUND: For the better part of 100 years, acetaminophen (or paracetamol as it is known outside of the United States) has been a common first-line analgesic in pediatrics and is typically well tolerated with minimal side effects. Its use as an…
Abstract Background: The place of death is of considerable interest now, yet few studies have determined public preferences for place of end-of-life (EOL) care or final days of life. Objective: A survey was designed to answer three questions: (1)…
Abstract Background: The medical literature encourages primary care pediatricians (PCPs) to play a role in the care of patients who are dying. Actual involvement has not been investigated. Objective: Our objective was to explore current involvement…
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Delirium in terminally ill cancer patients causes considerable distress to family members. The aim was to determine the family-perceived usefulness of a leaflet about delirium in terminally ill cancer patients. METHODS:…
Abstract Objectives: In Germany since 2007 patients with advanced life-limiting diseases are eligible for Specialized Outpatient Palliative Care (SOPC). To provide this service, SOPC teams have been established as a new facility in the health care…
BACKGROUND: Promoting resilience is an aspect of psychosocial care that affects patient and whole-family well-being. There is little consensus about how to define or promote resilience during and after pediatric cancer. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this…
Abstract Background: As the United States braces for full implementation of health care reform, the eyes of the nation are on Medicaid. The large number of newly eligible Medicaid beneficiaries may challenge health care resources and ultimately…
Abstract Background: The experiences of young people who have siblings with life-limiting illnesses are not well understood. Aim: The study proposed to identify the concerns of siblings of pediatric palliative care (PPC) patients. Design and…
BACKGROUND: Studies examining the effectiveness of treatment in reducing the noises of death rattle have been conducted; however, the physical impact of death rattle on the patient experiencing the phenomenon has not been investigated. Treatments may…
Abstract Objectives: In Germany since 2007 children with advanced life-limiting diseases are eligible for Pediatric Palliative Home Care (PPHC), which is provided by newly established specialized PPHC teams. The objective of this study was to…
Abstract Background: Data about pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) family conferences (FCs) are needed to enhance our understanding of the role of FCs in patient care and build a foundation for future research on PICU communication and decision…
BACKGROUND: The interaction of health care providers and hospital staff with patients and families at the end of life affects the parental grief experience. Both verbal and nonverbal communication are key components of this interaction. OBJECTIVE:…
BACKGROUND: For parents of a critically ill infant, good communication may help alleviate stress and anxiety. To improve communication, physicians must be responsive to families' needs and values surrounding the care of their hospitalized infant.…
BACKGROUND: The loss of a child is associated with an increased risk for developing psychological problems. However, studies investigating the impact of parents' faith and hope for a cure during the palliative phase on long-term parental…
BACKGROUND: Evidence on the impact of pediatric palliative care programs (PPCP) on resource utilization is scarce and requires broader measures to include utilization beyond the hospital setting. OBJECTIVE: This research aims to provide a Canadian…
BACKGROUND: Physicians are often asked to prognosticate patient survival. However, prediction of survival is difficult, particularly with critically ill and dying patients within the hospitals. The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) was designed to…
