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Perceptions of Proactive Palliative Care Integration Among Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Providers: A Pilot

Sydney Ariagno1, Vida Alami2, Dexiang Gao1,2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) providers find proactive specialty palliative care (SPC) highly acceptable and appropriate. This integration improves patient care and provider satisfaction in HCT settings.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Palliative Care
  • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Background:

  • Pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is associated with significant risks, including mortality, morbidity, and distress.
  • Specialty palliative care (SPC) can potentially improve patient experience and relieve suffering in pediatric HCT.
  • Barriers to SPC integration in pediatric HCT include unknown provider perceptions, especially from those with experience in HCT-SPC partnerships.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe a standardized, proactive pediatric HCT-SPC clinical partnership model.
  • To quantify the acceptability, appropriateness, and satisfaction of pediatric HCT providers with the integrated SPC program.

Main Methods:

  • A pilot study utilizing survey methods was conducted at a single institution.
  • Attitudes were assessed among HCT providers with at least three months of experience in the HCT-SPC partnership.
  • Validated measures (Acceptability of Intervention Measure, Intervention Appropriateness Measure) and adapted survey items were used.

Main Results:

  • Providers reported high mean scores for acceptability (4.96/5) and appropriateness (4.93/5).
  • Overall satisfaction with SPC integration averaged 8.72/10, with high satisfaction for individual SPC services.
  • No significant differences in responses were observed based on provider type, prior SPC training, or years of practice.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric HCT providers involved in a standardized SPC collaboration perceive SPC as highly acceptable, appropriate, and beneficial.
  • These findings support the feasibility and value of proactively integrating SPC into pediatric HCT care.
  • The study highlights positive provider attitudes towards SPC, paving the way for wider adoption.
Abstract

Keywords:
care deliveryhematopoietic cell transplantoncologypalliative care implementationpediatric palliative careperceptions of palliative care

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