[Quality of Pediatric Palliative Care Crisis Intervention - A Retrospective Survey]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Palliative Care
• Child Health Services
• Family Support Systems

Background:

• Life-limiting illnesses pose significant challenges for children and families, necessitating specialized care beyond the terminal phase.
• Ambulatory palliative care teams offer vital support to families facing pediatric health crises.
• The quality of crisis interventions provided by these specialized teams requires thorough evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the quality of crisis interventions delivered by a specialized ambulatory pediatric palliative care team.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on family burden and patient well-being.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective survey using a custom questionnaire and the "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale" was conducted.
• Data were collected from families receiving care from the pediatric palliative care team between January 2012 and August 2017.
• The study achieved a response rate of 52.1%.

Main Results:

• Families highly valued the support, security, 24-hour availability, and assistance with medical aids provided by the palliative team.
• Pediatric palliative care crisis interventions led to significant improvements in patient and family burden.
• Enhanced symptom control and communication were key outcomes reported by participating families.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric palliative care crisis interventions effectively alleviate the psychological and physical stress experienced by children and families.
• Specialized outpatient pediatric palliative care demonstrably improves the quality of life for patients and their families during challenging times.