Related Experiment Videos

Pediatric palliative care

Karen Moody1, Linda Siegel, Kathryn Scharbach

  • 1Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, 3415 Bainbridge Avenue, 111 East 210th Street, Rosenthal 3, Bronx, NY 10463, USA. kmoody@montefiore.org

Primary Care
|June 2, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric palliative care faces barriers like insufficient training and resources. Addressing these is crucial for improving care for critically ill children and their families.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Palliative Care
  • Child Health
  • End-of-Life Care

Background:

  • Pediatric palliative care is advancing but faces significant challenges.
  • Barriers include a shortage of trained professionals, inadequate funding, and limited research.
  • Cultural attitudes towards childhood death also impede progress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current state of pediatric palliative care.
  • To identify key areas for improvement and resource needs.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview for practitioners and families.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
  • Analysis of epidemiological data.
  • Identification of best practices in communication, decision-making, and symptom management.

Main Results:

  • Significant barriers hinder appropriate pediatric palliative care provision.
  • Key areas reviewed include communication, ethics, symptom management, and psychosocial support.
  • Educational and support resources are identified.

Conclusions:

  • Overcoming barriers requires enhanced training, funding, and research.
  • Comprehensive care addresses medical, ethical, and psychosocial needs.
  • Resources are available to support healthcare professionals and families.

Related Concept Videos

Continuing Care01:25

Continuing Care

Continuing care describes the variety of health, personal, and social services provided over a prolonged period. The need for continuing care is increasing because people are living longer. Many people do not have families or others to care for them. Continuing care is mainly for patients who are disabled, functionally dependent, or suffering from a terminal disease. It is available within institutional settings or in homes. Examples include nursing centers or facilities, assisted living,...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Patient-centered Care01:13

Patient-centered Care

Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...