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International consensus on sleep problems in pediatric palliative care: Paving the way

Anna Mercante1, Judith Owens2, Oliviero Bruni3

  • 1Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Sleep Medicine
|June 4, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems are common in pediatric palliative care (PPC), but general guidelines are insufficient. This study established 53 international consensus recommendations for sleep issues in PPC to improve care for children and families.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Palliative Care
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Consensus Development

Background:

  • Sleep problems are prevalent and distressing in pediatric palliative care (PPC), impacting children, adolescents, and their families.
  • Existing pediatric sleep guidelines are inadequate for the complex needs of PPC patients.
  • There is a critical lack of clinical evidence and tailored recommendations for sleep issues in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a multidisciplinary international consensus on sleep problems in pediatric palliative care (PPC).
  • To develop evidence-based recommendations for the definition, assessment, monitoring, and treatment of sleep problems in PPC.
  • To address the unique challenges and peculiarities of sleep in the PPC setting.

Main Methods:

  • A two-round Delphi approach was utilized, involving a global panel of 72 experts.
  • Consensus was defined as agreement of ≥75% among the expert panel.
  • An online survey facilitated the data collection and consensus-building process.

Main Results:

  • 53 consensus recommendations were achieved through expert opinion on sleep problems in PPC.
  • The recommendations cover key areas including definition, assessment, monitoring, and treatment of sleep issues.
  • The study highlights the need for personalized sleep medicine approaches in PPC.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first international consensus on sleep problems in pediatric palliative care.
  • The findings underscore the urgent need for global guidance to alleviate sleep-related distress in this vulnerable population and their caregivers.
  • These recommendations serve as a crucial milestone towards developing future clinical guidelines for PPC.
Abstract

Keywords:
Complex healthcare needsConsensusPediatric palliative careSleepSleep problems

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