Physician Perspectives on Palliative Care for Children with Advanced Heart Disease: A Comparison between Pediatric Cardiology and Palliative Care Physicians
pediatric end-of-life care; Child; Only Child; Palliative Care; Physicians; Referral and Consultation; pediatric palliative care; child; advanced heart disease; pediatric heart failure; physician perspectives
BACKGROUND: While the importance of pediatric palliative care (PPC) for children with life-threatening illness is increasingly recognized, little is known about physicians' attitudes toward palliative care for children with heart disease. OBJECTIVE: To compare the perspectives of PPC physicians and pediatric cardiologists regarding palliative care in pediatric heart disease. DESIGN: Cross-sectional web-based surveys. RESULTS: Responses from 183 pediatric cardiologists were compared to those of 49 PPC physicians (response rates 31% [183/589] and 28% [49/175], respectively). Forty-eight percent of PPC physicians and 63% of pediatric cardiologists agreed that availability of PPC is adequate (p = 0.028). The majority of both groups indicated that PPC consultation occurs "too late." Compared with pediatric cardiologists, PPC physicians reported greater competence in all areas of advance care planning, communication, and symptom management. PPC physicians more often described obstacles to PPC consultation as "many" or "numerous" (42% vs. 7%, p < 0.001). PPC physicians overestimated how much pediatric cardiologists worry about PPC introducing inconsistency in approach (60% vs. 11%, p < 0.001), perceive lack of added value from PPC (30% vs. 7%, p < 0.001), believe that PPC involvement will undermine parental hope (65% vs. 44%, p = 0.003), and perceive that PPC is poorly accepted by parents (53% vs. 27%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences between pediatric cardiologists and PPC physicians in perception of palliative care involvement and perceived barriers to PPC consultation. An intervention that targets communication and exchange of expertise between PPC and pediatric cardiology could improve care for children with heart disease.
Balkin EM; Sleeper LA; Kirkpatrick JN; Swetz KM; Coggins MK; Wolfe J; Blume ED
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.2017.0612" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1089/jpm.2017.0612</a>
Barriers to the early integration of palliative care in pediatric oncology in 11 Eurasian countries
Eurasia; global health; low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs); palliative care integration; pediatric oncology; pediatric palliative care; physician perspectives
BACKGROUND: The early integration of palliative care significantly improves quality of life for children with cancer. However, cultural, structural, and socioeconomic barriers can delay the integration of palliative care into cancer care, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. To date, little is known regarding the timing of and barriers to palliative care integration in Eurasia. METHODS: The Assessing Doctors' Attitudes on Palliative Treatment (ADAPT) survey evaluates physician perceptions regarding palliative care integration into pediatric oncology in Eurasia. This evidence-based survey was adapted to the regional context; iteratively reviewed by US and regional panelists; and piloted in English, Russian, and Mongolian. After distribution to physicians caring for children with cancer, statistical analysis was complemented by qualitative analysis of open-ended responses. RESULTS: A total of 424 physician responses were received from 11 countries in the Eurasian region. Study findings demonstrated wide variability in access to palliative care experts across countries (18%-96%), with the majority of providers (64%) reporting that the initial palliative care consultation typically occurs when curative options are no longer available. Providers desired an earlier initial palliative care consultation than what currently occurs in their setting (P < .001). Primary barriers to timely consultation included limited access to palliative care services and specialists, lack of physician education, and perceived family resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The current study is the first to identify physician perceptions of the delayed timing of palliative care integration into childhood cancer care and associated barriers in Eurasia. These findings will inform the development of targeted interventions to mitigate local structural and cultural barriers to access and facilitate earlier palliative care integration in the region.
Ehrlich B S; Movsisyan N; Batmunkh T; Kumirova E; Borisevich M V; Kirgizov K; Graetz D E; McNeil M J; Yakimkova T; Vinitsky A; Ferrara G; Li C; Lu Z; Kaye E C; Baker J N; Agulnik A
Cancer
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/10.1002/cncr.33151" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1002/cncr.33151</a>
A multicountry assessment in Eurasia: Alignment of physician perspectives on palliative care integration in pediatric oncology with World Health Organization guidelines
Eurasia; global health; low-to-middle-income country (LMIC); pediatric oncology; pediatric palliative care; physician perspectives
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for early integration of palliative care for all children with life-threatening illness. Provider awareness and misperceptions, however, can impede this imperative. In the Eurasian region, little is known about physician knowledge and perspectives on palliative care. METHODS: The Assessing Doctors' Attitudes on Palliative Treatment survey was developed as an evidence-based and culturally relevant assessment of physician perceptions on palliative care integration into childhood cancer care in Eurasia. Iteratively tested by American and Eurasian palliative care experts, the survey was culturally adapted, translated, and piloted in English, Russian, and Mongolian. The survey was distributed to physicians caring for children with cancer. Fifteen statements were scored in accordance with WHO guidelines to evaluate provider knowledge. The statistical analysis was complemented by a qualitative analysis of open-ended responses. RESULTS: This study received 424 responses from 11 countries in Eurasia. The mean alignment between provider perspectives and WHO recommendations was 70% (range, 7%-100%). Significant independent predictors of higher alignment included country, prior palliative care education, and greater experience with patient death. Respondents primarily described palliative care as end-of-life care and symptom management. Two-thirds of respondents (67%) reported not feeling confident about delivering at least 1 component of palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study assessing physician perspectives and knowledge of palliative care in Eurasia and reveals wide variability in alignment with WHO guidelines and limited confidence in providing palliative care. Study findings will inform targeted educational interventions, which must be tailored to the local political, economic, and cultural context.
Ehrlich B S; Movsisyan N; Batmunkh T; Kumirova E; Borisevich M V; Kirgizov K; Graetz D E; McNeil M J; Yakimkova T; Vinitsky A; Ferrara G; Li C; Lu Z; Kaye E C; Baker J N; Agulnik A
Cancer
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/10.1002/cncr.33001" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1002/cncr.33001</a>