The conceptual understanding of pediatric palliative care: a Swiss healthcare perspective
Abstract Background Health care providers’ perception of pediatric palliative care might negatively influence timely implementation. The aim of the study was to examine understanding of and attitudes towards pediatric palliative care from the perspective of health care providers working in pediatric...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Palliative Care |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12904-019-0438-1 |
| _version_ | 1819113111801561088 |
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| author | Eva De Clercq Michael Rost Milenko Rakic Marc Ansari Pierluigi Brazzola Tenzin Wangmo Bernice S. Elger |
| author_facet | Eva De Clercq Michael Rost Milenko Rakic Marc Ansari Pierluigi Brazzola Tenzin Wangmo Bernice S. Elger |
| author_sort | Eva De Clercq |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Health care providers’ perception of pediatric palliative care might negatively influence timely implementation. The aim of the study was to examine understanding of and attitudes towards pediatric palliative care from the perspective of health care providers working in pediatric oncology in Switzerland to promote the timely implementation of pediatric palliative care. Methods Five mixed focus groups were conducted with 29 health care providers (oncologists, nurses, psychologists, and social workers) at five Swiss pediatric oncology group centers. The focus group interviews were analyzed using thematic coding. Results Most participants associated pediatric palliative care with non-curative treatment. They regularly reported difficulties in addressing palliative care services to families due to the strong stigma surrounding this term. They also thought that the notion of palliative care is very much linked to a policy context, and difficult to reconcile with children’s everyday life. To overcome these obstacles many participants used synonyms such as comfort or supportive care. A few providers insisted on the need of using palliative care and reported the importance of positive “word of mouth”. Conclusions The use of synonyms might be a pragmatic approach to overcome initial barriers to the implementation of palliative care in pediatrics. However, this tactic might ultimately prove to be ineffective as these terms might acquire the same negative connotations as palliative care. Positive word-of-mouth by satisfied families and healthcare providers might be a more sustainable way to advocate for pediatric palliative care than replacing it with a euphemistic term. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:24:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e59b5de16daa4e8fbe8382d3164f86c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-684X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:24:13Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Palliative Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-e59b5de16daa4e8fbe8382d3164f86c32022-12-21T18:39:12ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2019-07-0118111210.1186/s12904-019-0438-1The conceptual understanding of pediatric palliative care: a Swiss healthcare perspectiveEva De Clercq0Michael Rost1Milenko Rakic2Marc Ansari3Pierluigi Brazzola4Tenzin Wangmo5Bernice S. Elger6Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of BaselInstitute for Biomedical Ethics, University of BaselInstitute for Biomedical Ethics, University of BaselDivision of General Pediatrics Pediatric Oncohematology Unit, Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve Hopital des enfantsOspedale Regionale di Bellinzona e ValliInstitute for Biomedical Ethics, University of BaselInstitute for Biomedical Ethics, University of BaselAbstract Background Health care providers’ perception of pediatric palliative care might negatively influence timely implementation. The aim of the study was to examine understanding of and attitudes towards pediatric palliative care from the perspective of health care providers working in pediatric oncology in Switzerland to promote the timely implementation of pediatric palliative care. Methods Five mixed focus groups were conducted with 29 health care providers (oncologists, nurses, psychologists, and social workers) at five Swiss pediatric oncology group centers. The focus group interviews were analyzed using thematic coding. Results Most participants associated pediatric palliative care with non-curative treatment. They regularly reported difficulties in addressing palliative care services to families due to the strong stigma surrounding this term. They also thought that the notion of palliative care is very much linked to a policy context, and difficult to reconcile with children’s everyday life. To overcome these obstacles many participants used synonyms such as comfort or supportive care. A few providers insisted on the need of using palliative care and reported the importance of positive “word of mouth”. Conclusions The use of synonyms might be a pragmatic approach to overcome initial barriers to the implementation of palliative care in pediatrics. However, this tactic might ultimately prove to be ineffective as these terms might acquire the same negative connotations as palliative care. Positive word-of-mouth by satisfied families and healthcare providers might be a more sustainable way to advocate for pediatric palliative care than replacing it with a euphemistic term.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12904-019-0438-1OncologyConceptual barriersAttitudesStigmaDeath |
| spellingShingle | Eva De Clercq Michael Rost Milenko Rakic Marc Ansari Pierluigi Brazzola Tenzin Wangmo Bernice S. Elger The conceptual understanding of pediatric palliative care: a Swiss healthcare perspective BMC Palliative Care Oncology Conceptual barriers Attitudes Stigma Death |
| title | The conceptual understanding of pediatric palliative care: a Swiss healthcare perspective |
| title_full | The conceptual understanding of pediatric palliative care: a Swiss healthcare perspective |
| title_fullStr | The conceptual understanding of pediatric palliative care: a Swiss healthcare perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | The conceptual understanding of pediatric palliative care: a Swiss healthcare perspective |
| title_short | The conceptual understanding of pediatric palliative care: a Swiss healthcare perspective |
| title_sort | conceptual understanding of pediatric palliative care a swiss healthcare perspective |
| topic | Oncology Conceptual barriers Attitudes Stigma Death |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12904-019-0438-1 |
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