Bereaved Caregivers Perspectives of Negative Communication Experiences Near the End of Life for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
Purpose: High-quality communication is a standard of palliative care for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. Yet, few studies have characterized the negative communication experiences of AYAs near the end of life (EOL). Method(s): We performed a secondary analysis of 27 qualitative interviews with bereaved caregivers of AYAs with cancer who died between 2013 and 2016 at 1 of 3 sites. Interviews focused on barriers to optimal EOL care for AYAs. We used thematic analysis using iterative consensus coding to analyze transcripts. Result(s): Participants were predominantly white (85%), non-Hispanic (93%), and female (74%). Half of the participants were bereaved parents, and 37% were bereaved partners or spouses. Overall, 23/27 (85%) caregivers described at least one negative communication experience related to one of three themes: (1) Insensitivity to patients' needs, preferences, and values; (2) Insufficient discussions of prognosis and/or EOL; and (3) Loss of support from the clinical team near EOL. Both clinician- and patient-related factors contributed to limited EOL discussions. Lack of care continuity related to both clinician factors and systems of care that required new or changing clinical care teams near the EOL. Conclusion(s): Caregivers report a desire for clinician sensitivity to their needs and values, information about the future, and longitudinal connections with individual clinicians. Clinicians might improve caregivers' EOL experiences by eliciting patient preferences, engaging in EOL discussions, adapting to the AYA's developmental and emotional needs, and demonstrating a commitment to AYAs and caregivers as they approach the EOL.
Sisk BA; Keenan MA; Schulz GL; Bakitas M; Currie ER; Gilbertson-White S; Lindley LC; Roeland EJ; Mack JW
Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology
2022
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/jayao.2021.0154" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1089/jayao.2021.0154</a>
Defining a "Good Death" in Pediatric Oncology: A Mixed Methods Study of Healthcare Providers
palliative care; cancer; qualitative; adolescent and young adult; interdisciplinary
Delivering optimal end-of-life (EOL) care to children and adolescents is a healthcare priority, yet relatively little is known about what patients, families, and healthcare providers (HCPs) consider "best" practices. The objective of this study was to identify factors that pediatric oncology HCPs consider important for EOL care. This was a cross-sectional mixed methods study. Participants were multidisciplinary pediatric oncology staff who completed surveys and participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. Interviews were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. Provider statements were compared based on years of experience (≤10 or >10 years) and discipline (non-physician or physician). A total of n = 19 staff (74% female) enrolled, including physicians (n = 8), advanced practice providers (n = 4), nurses (n = 2), music/art therapists (n = 2), physical therapists (n = 1), educators (n = 1), and chaplains (n = 1). Most HCPs identified communication, symptom control, and acceptance as features of a "good" death. Compared to physicians, non-physicians focused on relationships (67% vs. 33%, p = 0.007); HCPs with ≤10 years of experience (n = 11) more frequently identified the benefits of a multidisciplinary team (74% vs. 26%, p = 0.004). This study identified many common HCP-defined components of "good" pediatric EOL care in addition to some differing perspectives depending on discipline and experience. Incorporating diverse HCP perspectives with those of the patient and family can guide contemporary high-quality pediatric EOL clinical care and education.
Taylor M R; Barton K S; Kingsley J M; Heunis J; Rosenberg A R
Children (Basel)
2020
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/10.3390/children7080086" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.3390/children7080086</a>
Preferences regarding end-of-life care among adolescents and young adults with cancer: results from a comprehensive multicenter survey in Japan
Adolescent and young adult; adult; adverse drug reaction; anxiety; article; cancer; cancer prognosis; cancer survival; cancer survivor; cancer therapy; chemotherapy; child; controlled study; end-of-life care; female; health care personnel; human; Japan; major clinical study; male; multicenter study; palliative therapy; patient history of chemotherapy; preference; prognostic disclosure; questionnaire; side effect; terminal care; young adult
CONTEXT: Patient preferences influence end-of-life (EOL) care which patients receive. However, preferences regarding EOL care among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer population remain unclear. OBJECTIVE(S): The objective of the study was to evaluate preferences regarding EOL care among AYA cancer population. METHOD(S): We evaluated preferences regarding EOL care as a part of a comprehensive multicenter questionnaire study investigating the experience and needs of Japanese AYA cancer population. RESULT(S): A total of 349 AYA cancer population (213 AYA cancer patients and 136 AYA cancer survivors) were evaluated. Eighteen six percent (296/344), 53% (180/338), 88% (301/341) and 61% (207/342) of participants with valid response preferred to have prognostic disclosure, receive palliative chemotherapy for incurable cancer with limited efficacy at the expense of considerable toxicity, actively use palliative care and stay home at EOL, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the preference regarding prognostic disclosure was associated positively with no child status (OR = 3.05, p = 0.003) and negatively with history of chemotherapy (OR = 0.23, p = 0.009), the preference regarding palliative chemotherapy for incurable cancer with limited efficacy at the expense of considerable toxicity was associated positively with status under active cancer treatment (OR = 1.74, p = 0.03) and the preference of staying home at EOL was positively associated with anxiety (OR = 1.72, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION(S): This study elucidated preferences regarding EOL care among Japanese AYA cancer population. These findings may help health care practitioners to have better understanding of preferences regarding EOL care among this population. Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Hirano H; Shimizu C; Kawachi A; Ozawa M; Higuchi A; Yoshida S; Shimizu K; Tatara R; Horibe K
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
2019
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/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.04.033" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.04.033</a>
Qualitative situational analysis of palliative care for adolescents with cancer and HIV in South Africa: healthcare worker perceptions
adolescent and young adult; cancer; hiv/aids; palliative care; South Africa
OBJECTIVES: The unmet palliative care need is intensified in resource-limited countries where there is inequitable access to healthcare and adolescents and young adults (AYA) fall between the cracks of paediatric and adult services. We aimed to examine palliative care for AYA with cancer and/or HIV in South Africa. DESIGN: Individual and small group interviews using process mapping. SETTING: Data were collected between November 2016 and March 2017 with staff from government hospitals, hospices and clinics from three provinces of South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: Health and social care professionals (n=30) (eg, physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists) from KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng provinces. METHODS: In this qualitative situational analysis study, participants were recruited to interviews and process mapping used to try and identify palliative care pathways of AYA with palliative care needs. We developed a thematic framework using a deductive approach to analyse the interview data. RESULTS: Palliative care pathways were not easily identifiable, ambiguous and varied and participants reported on their experiences and perceptions of service provision. Participants expressed that resource challenges limited the service provision. A need for nurse prescribing of pain relief at community level was mentioned as AYA are reluctant to use hospitals and clinics. Lack of (1) palliative care education among professionals, (2) public awareness and (3) adolescent-specific care posed a challenge to service provision. CONCLUSIONS: The changing burden of HIV and increase in cancer prevalence calls for integration of palliative care in mainstream health services. Despite good policies, the pragmatic aspect of training professionals will influence a change in practice. The main task will be to absorb palliative care philosophy and practice at all levels of care to avoid overburdening the care system and to integrate it in community care programmes.
Ngwenya N; Ambler J; Archary M
BMJ Open
2019
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/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023225" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023225</a>