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The need for paediatric palliative care in New Zealand
Rhys Jones1, Adrian Trenholme, Margaret Horsburgh
1Kidz First, Counties Manukau District Health Board.
Insights
Approximately 16% of child deaths in New Zealand between 1996-1998 required pediatric palliative care. This finding aids in planning essential palliative care services for children in New Zealand.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Palliative Care Epidemiology
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Estimating the need for pediatric palliative care is crucial for service planning.
- Previous studies have provided international estimates, but New Zealand-specific data was lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of life-limiting conditions in New Zealand children requiring palliative care.
- To inform the development and allocation of pediatric palliative care resources within New Zealand.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of mortality data for children aged 0-17 years from 1996-1998.
- Classification of deaths based on cause and hospitalization data to identify palliative care needs.
- Comparison with international estimates to contextualize findings.
Main Results:
- Out of 2,122 child deaths, 348 (16%) were identified as potentially requiring palliative care.
- The incidence rate was 1.14 per 10,000 children annually.
- Leading causes included cancer (37%), congenital anomalies (24%), and other conditions (28%).
Conclusions:
- The incidence of pediatric palliative care needs in New Zealand aligns with international estimates.
- These findings provide valuable data for planning and improving pediatric palliative care services in New Zealand.
Aim:
To estimate the incidence of life-limiting conditions requiring palliative care in New Zealand children.
Methods:
Mortality data was obtained for all children who died aged 0-17 years during the period 1996-1998. Based on the cause of death and hospitalisation data, cases were classified as either 'palliative' or 'not palliative'. A separate analysis was performed to allow comparison with overseas estimates of paediatric palliative care need.
Results:
Of a total of 2,122 deaths during the study period, 348 cases (16%) were assessed as potentially having required palliative care, giving a rate of 1.14 per 10 000 children per year. 37% of these deaths were due to cancer, 11% cardiac conditions, 24% congenital anomalies, and 28% other conditions. 29% of these children died in hospital.
Conclusions:
The findings of this study are consistent with estimates from overseas studies and will be valuable in planning paediatric palliative care services in New Zealand.