Subject
Palliative Care/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]; Male; Infant Newborn; Young Adult; Child; Humans; Professional-Family Relations; Palliative Care/mt [Methods]; Adolescent; Socioeconomic Factors; Female; Child Preschool; Infant; California; Nurse-Patient Relations; Hospice Care/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]; Neuromuscular Diseases/nu [Nursing]; Pediatric Nursing/mt [Methods]; Pediatric Nursing/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]; Health Services Needs and Demand/og [Organization & Administration]; Health Services Needs and Demand/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]; Hospice Care/mt [Methods]
Description
PURPOSE: The purpose was to examine the characteristics of children who use hospice care. DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the Andersen Model of Health Services Use, California Medicaid administrative databases were analyzed to describe the characteristics of 76 children in hospice. RESULTS: The predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics of children were identified. Children who used hospice were a diverse group with community resources that enabled them to access care while presenting with serious health needs. Children enrolled in hospice were more likely older (15-20 years of age), resided nearer a pediatric hospice, and had a serious health condition such as neuromuscular disease with multiple comorbidities. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: With this knowledge, pediatric nurses can improve their clinical practice by targeting conversations with families and children most in need of hospice care.