Family caregivers of children and adolescents with rare diseases: a novel palliative care intervention

Title

Family caregivers of children and adolescents with rare diseases: a novel palliative care intervention

Creator

Lyon ME; Thompkins JD; Fratantoni K; Fraser JL; Schellinger SE; Briggs L; Friebert S; Aoun S; Cheng YI; Wang J

Publisher

BMJ Supportive Palliative Care

Date

2019

Subject

decision making; end-of-life; family caregiver; intervention; intervention. She receives a small royalty.; palliative care needs; pediatric advanced care planning; rare disease

Description

OBJECTIVE: To develop and pilot test a palliative care intervention for family caregivers of children with rare diseases (FAmily-CEntered pediatric Advance Care Planning-Rare (FACE-Rare)). METHODS: FACE-Rare development involved an iterative, family-guided process including review by a Patient and Family Advisory Council, semistructured family interviews and adaptation of two evidence-based person-centred approaches and pilot testing their integration. Eligible families were enrolled in FACE-Rare (the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) Approach Paediatric sessions 1 and 2; plus Respecting Choices Next Steps pACP intervention sessions 3 and 4). Satisfaction, quality of communication and caregiver appraisal were assessed. RESULTS: Parents were mean age 40 years, and children 7 years. Children's diseases were rare enough that description would identify patients. All children were technology dependent. Telemedicine, used with four of seven families, was an effective engagement strategy and decreased subject burden. Families found FACE-Rare valuable following a strategy that first elicited palliative care needs and a support plan. Eight families were approached for pilot testing. Of the seven mothers who agreed to participate, six began session 1, and of those, 100% completed: all four FACE-Rare sessions, baseline and 2-week postintervention assessments, and a written pACP which described their preferences for medical decision-making to share with their providers. 100% reported FACE-Rare was helpful. The top three CSNAT concerns were: knowing what to expect in the future, having enough time for yourself and financial issues. Benchmarks were achieved and questionnaires were acceptable to parents and thus feasible to use in a larger trial. CONCLUSIONS: FACE-Rare provides an innovative, structured approach for clinicians to deliver person-centred care.

Rights

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).

Citation List Month

September 2019 List

Collection

Citation

Lyon ME; Thompkins JD; Fratantoni K; Fraser JL; Schellinger SE; Briggs L; Friebert S; Aoun S; Cheng YI; Wang J, “Family caregivers of children and adolescents with rare diseases: a novel palliative care intervention,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed March 28, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/16470.