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Mental health and developmental disabilities in US children admitted in hospice care
Lisa C Lindley1, Radion Svynarenko2, Lora Humphrey Beebe3
1Associate professor; Nightingale Endowed Faculty Fellow University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee.
Insights
Thousands of children in US hospice care have mental health and developmental disabilities. Anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders were most common in adolescents aged 15-20.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Palliative Care
- Child Mental Health
- Developmental Disabilities
Background:
- Annually, thousands of children in the US die, with many receiving hospice care.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the mental health and developmental profiles of these children.
- This study addresses a critical knowledge gap in pediatric end-of-life care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the prevalence of mental health and developmental disabilities in children admitted to hospice.
- To compare these conditions across different pediatric age groups.
- To inform clinical practice and support for children in hospice.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of US Medicaid data from 2011-2013.
- Inclusion of 6195 children diagnosed with mental health and/or developmental disabilities.
- Statistical comparisons utilizing the Pearson chi-square test.
Main Results:
- Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, behavioral, and affective disorders were most prevalent in adolescents (15-20 years).
- Developmental delays were more common in infants (under 1 year).
- Intellectual disabilities were also highest in the 15-20 years age group.
Conclusions:
- Significant mental health and developmental needs exist in children receiving hospice care.
- Age-specific patterns of these disabilities were observed.
- Nurses require enhanced understanding and training to address these complex needs effectively.
Background:
Of the 40 000 children who die annually in the US, thousands are admitted to hospice care. Little is known about the mental health and developmental disabilities of these children.
Aims:
To describe the mental health and developmental disabilities of children who are admitted to hospice care and compare this across age groups.
Methods:
The 2011 to 2013 US Medicaid files were used. The sample included 6195 children with a diagnosis of a mental health and/or developmental disability. Comparisons were calculated using the Pearson chi-square test.
Results:
Mental health conditions, including anxiety (31.0%), depression (33.1%), behavioural disorders (33.9%) and affective disorders (34.8%), were highest among children aged between 15 and 20 years. Developmental delays were common in children under a year, while intellectual disabilities were highest in the 15 to 20 years age group.
Conclusions:
Nurses have an important role in understanding the mental health and developmental disabilities of children admitted to hospice care.
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