Barriers in care for children with life-threatening conditions: a qualitative interview study in the Netherlands
Title
Barriers in care for children with life-threatening conditions: a qualitative interview study in the Netherlands
Creator
Brouwer M; Maeckelberghe E L M; van der Heide A; Hein I; Verhagen E
Identifier
Publisher
BMJ Open
Date
2020
Subject
medical ethics; paediatric palliative care; palliative care
Description
OBJECTIVE: To identify barriers, as perceived by parents, to good care for children with life-threatening conditions. DESIGN: In a nationwide qualitative study, we held in-depth interviews regarding end-of-life care with parents of children (aged 1 to 12 years) who were living with a life-threatening illness or who had died after a medical trajectory (a maximum of 5 years after the death of the child). Sampling was aimed at obtaining maximum variety for a number of factors. The interviews were transcribed and analysed. SETTING: The Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: 64 parents of 44 children. RESULTS: Parents identified six categories of difficulties that create barriers in the care for children with a life-threatening condition. First, parents wished for more empathetic and open communication about the illness and prognosis. Second, organisational barriers create bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of continuity of care. Third, parents wished for more involvement in decision-making. Fourth, parents wished they had more support from the healthcare team on end-of-life decision-making. Fifth, parents experienced a lack of attention for the family during the illness and after the death of their child. Sixth, parents experienced an overemphasis on symptom-treatment and lack of attention for their child as a person. CONCLUSIONS: The barriers as perceived by parents focussed almost without exception on non-medical aspects: patient-doctor relationships; communication; decision-making, including end-of-life decision-making; and organisation. The perceived barriers indicate that care for children with a life-threatening condition focusses too much on symptoms and not enough on the human beings behind these symptoms.
Rights
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Citation List Month
August 2020 List
URL Address
Collection
Citation
Brouwer M; Maeckelberghe E L M; van der Heide A; Hein I; Verhagen E, “Barriers in care for children with life-threatening conditions: a qualitative interview study in the Netherlands,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed October 15, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/17164.