Palliative Care as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Pediatric Oncology
• Psychosocial Support

Background:

• Pediatric and adolescent cancer patients require specialized palliative care.
• Existing literature on psychosocial aspects of pediatric palliative cancer care is extensive but requires synthesis.
• A standardized approach is needed to improve care quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review pediatric and adolescent palliative cancer care literature.
• To inform the development of a psychosocial standard for pediatric palliative cancer care.
• To identify key areas for improving psychosocial support in pediatric oncology.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of four databases (1995-2015).
• Inclusion of 73 papers from an initial review of 209 papers.
• Synthesis of findings to identify critical themes.

Main Results:

• Urgent considerations include symptom assessment and intervention.
• Direct patient report is crucial for understanding needs.
• Effective communication and shared decision-making are vital components.
• Identified themes highlight the need for standardized assessments and interventions.

Conclusions:

• Standardizing palliative care assessments and interventions can enhance care quality.
• Improved psychosocial standards benefit children and adolescents with cancer.
• Family members also benefit from standardized, high-quality palliative care.
• This review provides a foundation for developing evidence-based psychosocial standards in pediatric oncology.