Pediatric Resident Perception and Participation in End-of-Life Care

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Palliative Care
• Medical Education

Background:

• Pediatric deaths are a reality, often occurring in hospitals.
• End-of-life care is vital for children with serious illnesses.
• Pediatric providers report discomfort with end-of-life care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess pediatric residents' perceptions of end-of-life care.
• To evaluate pediatric residents' participation in end-of-life care for children and families.

Main Methods:

• A survey-based, descriptive, mixed-methods study.
• Surveys were distributed to 100 pediatric residents at Indiana University School of Medicine.
• A 68% response rate provided quantitative and qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Residents across all training levels reported limited comfort and participation in end-of-life care.
• Only 32% felt adequately prepared by their education for end-of-life care.
• 19.5% of residents reported no participation in any aspect of end-of-life care.

Conclusions:

• Formalized education and training are necessary to enhance resident comfort and participation in pediatric end-of-life care.
• Future interventions should prioritize communication skills for difficult conversations.
• Training should also focus on providing guidance and support to families during end-of-life care.