The role of support staff in pediatric palliative care: their perceptions, training, and available resources

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Pediatric Healthcare
• Healthcare Support Staff

Background:

• Pediatric palliative care relies on multidisciplinary teams, including medical, nursing, and psychosocial professionals.
• Support staff (e.g., financial counselors, volunteers) are integral but often overlooked in research.
• Previous studies focused on medical and social work staff, neglecting support personnel in palliative care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of involvement in end-of-life pediatric care on support staff.
• To understand the perceptions and training needs of support staff in pediatric palliative care.
• To identify the role and contributions of support staff within the multidisciplinary palliative care team.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed hospital employees serving as support staff in pediatric palliative care.
• Investigated their interactions with dying children and families.
• Assessed perceived adverse outcomes and training adequacy.

Main Results:

• Support staff have significant, direct interactions with terminally ill children and their families.
• Many support staff reported adverse outcomes from these experiences.
• Few support staff felt adequately trained or knowledgeable in palliative care.
• Respondents offered valuable insights on symptom management, cultural sensitivity, and spirituality.

Conclusions:

• Support staff are vital members of pediatric palliative care teams.
• There is a critical need for targeted research, education, and training for support staff.
• Investing in support staff is essential for enhancing the quality of pediatric end-of-life care.