The adult and pediatric palliative care: differences and shared issues

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care Medicine
• Pediatric Oncology
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Adult and pediatric palliative care (PC) share common goals and ethical foundations.
• Significant organizational and practical differences exist between adult and pediatric PC.
• There is a need to explore beneficial aspects of pediatric PC for adult services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the differences between adult and pediatric palliative care.
• To identify key pediatric PC interventions that could be integrated into adult PC.
• To improve care for suffering patients in adult palliative care settings.

Main Methods:

• This study is a narrative review.
• It analyzes and compares interventions specific to pediatric palliative care.
• It focuses on aspects transferable to adult palliative care.

Main Results:

• Pediatric PC interventions include earlier referrals, enhanced cooperation with disease-specific physicians, and better community integration.
• Dynamic service organization allows for flexible care settings (in-hospital, home-based) and respite care for families.
• These pediatric-specific approaches can reduce treatment burdens and prevent social isolation.

Conclusions:

• Key aspects of pediatric palliative care offer significant benefits for adult palliative care.
• Integrating these elements can lead to a more dynamic and modern organization of adult PC services.
• Findings provide a basis for future research and new intervention development in adult palliative care.