Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Setup and Execution of the Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Death Notification Curriculum
Published on: August 5, 2020
[Dignified death for children: concept analysis]
Kátia Poles1, Regina Szylit Bousso
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo, Bolsista CNPq, Lavras, MG, Brazil. kpoles@usp.br
Insights
Defining a dignified death for children is complex and inconsistently described in medical literature. Key attributes include quality of life, palliative care, and family-centered support, highlighting a need for clearer pediatric end-of-life care definitions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Palliative Care
- Bioethics
- Concept Analysis in Nursing
Context:
- End-of-life care for children presents unique ethical and practical challenges.
- Existing literature lacks a consistent definition of dignified death in pediatric contexts.
- Medical and nursing fields have explored aspects of dignified death but not comprehensively for children.
Purpose:
- To describe the background, attributes, and consequences of the concept of dignified death for children.
- To analyze existing literature on dignified death in pediatric care using a concept analysis strategy.
- To identify key components contributing to a dignified death for children.
Summary:
- A concept analysis of 40 medical and nursing articles identified core attributes of dignified death for children.
- These attributes include quality of life, child- and family-centered care, palliative care knowledge, shared decision-making, suffering relief, clear communication, supportive relationships, and a welcoming environment.
- The study found that definitions of dignified death for children are often vague and inconsistently applied across authors.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for a more consistent and clearly defined concept of dignified death in pediatric end-of-life care.
- Provides a foundation for developing evidence-based guidelines for pediatric palliative care.
- Emphasizes the importance of integrating child- and family-centered approaches in end-of-life decision-making for children.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to describe the background, attributes and consequences of the concept of dignified death for children. The concept analysis strategy was used to evaluate the 40 articles found in journals in the medical and nursing areas, which studied or focused on the dignified death of children. The attributes of the dignified death concept include: quality of life, child- and family-centered care, specific knowledge about palliative care, shared decisions, relieving the child's suffering, clear communication, helpful relations and a welcoming environment. Few articles bring the definition of a dignified death for children, and, when they do, such definition is vague and often ambiguous among the many authors. This aspect indicates that the concept is not defined consistently, demanding studies about its manifestation in the clinical practice, contributing with the care at the end of life in Pediatrics.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II
01:21Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from emotional distress. Anger...
01:30Overview of Cell Death
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...
01:27Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:16Necrosis
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become anucleated and die, but their...
01:25Continuing Care