We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Improved Quality of Life at End of Life Related to Home-Based Palliative Care in Children with Cancer.
- Authors
Friedrichsdorf, Stefan J.; Postier, Andrea; Dreyfus, Jill; Osenga, Kaci; Sencer, Susan; Wolfe, Joanne
- Abstract
Background: Nearly 2000 children die due to a malignancy in the United States annually. Emerging data suggest that home is the desired location of care for children with cancer at end of life. However, one obstacle to enrollment in a pediatric palliative care (PPC) home care program may be fear that distressing symptoms at end of life cannot be adequately managed outside the hospital. Objective: To compare the symptom distress and quality-of-life experience for children who received concurrent end-of-life care from a PPC home care program (PPC/Oncology) with that of those who died without exposure to the PPC program (Oncology). Methods: We conducted a retrospective survey study of a cohort of bereaved parents of children who died of cancer between 2002 and 2008 at a U.S. tertiary pediatric institution. Results: Sixty bereaved parents were surveyed (50% PPC/Oncology). Prevalence of constipation and high distress from fatigue were more common in the PPC/Oncology group; other distressing symptoms were similar between groups, showing room for improvement. Children who received PPC/Oncology were significantly more likely to have fun (70% versus 45%), to experience events that added meaning to life (89% versus 63%), and to die at home (93% versus 20%). Conclusions: This is the first North American study to assess outcomes among children with cancer who received concurrent oncology and palliative home care compared with those who received oncology care alone. Symptom distress experiences were similar in groups. However, children enrolled in a PPC home care program appear to have improved quality of life and are more likely to die at home.
- Subjects
MINNESOTA; HOME care services; PALLIATIVE treatment; CANCER patient psychology; CHI-squared test; CONFIDENCE intervals; FISHER exact test; QUALITY of life; RESEARCH funding; PSYCHOLOGICAL stress; T-test (Statistics); TUMORS in children; LOGISTIC regression analysis; RETROSPECTIVE studies; DATA analysis software; ODDS ratio
- Publication
Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2015, Vol 18, Issue 2, p143
- ISSN
1096-6218
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1089/jpm.2014.0285