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Bogetz JF, Strub B, Bradford MC, McGalliard J, Shipman K, Jeyte A, Patneaude A, Johnston EE, Ananth P, Thienprayoon R, Rosenberg AR. Quality of Care in the Last Two Years of Life for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 68:488-498.e1. [PMID: 39097243 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Limited data exists about care received by children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) in the final years of their disease and end-of-life (EOL). OBJECTIVE To examine hospital performance on EOL quality measures and to describe healthcare services during the last two years of life for children with CCCs who died in-hospital. METHODS Retrospective automated electronic health record review of children with ≥1 CCC ICD-10 diagnosis code, who died inpatient between October 2020 and March 2023 at a single quaternary U.S. children's hospital. Quality was assessed based on performance on 15 measures across five domains: healthcare utilization, interprofessional supports, medical intensity, symptom management, and communication. Quality EOL care and healthcare services in the last two years of life were determined overall by age group and per patient. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate demographic differences by age. RESULTS 266 children with CCCs died in the study timeframe; 45% were infants (n = 120), 52% (n = 137) were male, 42% (n = 113) were white, 64% (n = 170) were non-Hispanic, and 59% (n=156) had public insurance. Children had a median of three CCCs (IQR 2.4; range 1-8). On average, children met 69% (SD 13%) of EOL quality measures for which they were eligible. In the two years prior to death, 98% (n = 261) had an ICU admission, 75% (n = 200) had a procedure requiring sedation, and 29% (n = 79) had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation. 86% (n = 229) died in the ICU. CONCLUSION In this study, children with CCCs met 69% of quality measures and received high-intensity healthcare in the last two years of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jori F Bogetz
- Department of Pediatrics (J.F.B.), Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care, University of Washington School of Medicine; Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Bryan Strub
- Biostatistics (B.S., M.C.B., J.M.G.), Epidemiology and Analytics in Research (BEAR) Core, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Miranda C Bradford
- Biostatistics (B.S., M.C.B., J.M.G.), Epidemiology and Analytics in Research (BEAR) Core, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Julie McGalliard
- Biostatistics (B.S., M.C.B., J.M.G.), Epidemiology and Analytics in Research (BEAR) Core, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kelly Shipman
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research (K.S.), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Center for Clinical Immunotherapies (K.S.), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Astan Jeyte
- Behavioral and Clinical Outcomes Research Program (A.J.), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle WA, USA
| | - Arika Patneaude
- Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care (A.P.), Seattle Children's Hospital, Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington School of Social Work, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Emily E Johnston
- Department of Pediatrics (E.E.J.), Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine; Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, UAB School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Prasanna Ananth
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine (P.A.), Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rachel Thienprayoon
- Department of Anesthesia (R.T.), Division of Palliative Care, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care (A.R.R.), Department of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics Harvard Medical School, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Martinez I, Davis ES, Wimberly CE, Towry L, Johnston EE, Walsh KM. Parental Attitudes Towards Palliative Care in Pediatric Oncology: Insights From Bereaved Families. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024:S0885-3924(24)00996-5. [PMID: 39270877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Palliative care (PC) has shown significant growth in the US and is associated with improved patient and caregiver experiences. Nevertheless, there are concerns that PC is underutilized in pediatric oncology. Understanding parental attitudes towards PC is crucial to improving PC utilization. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore bereaved parent attitudes towards PC in pediatric oncology. METHODS This study used data from Alex's Lemonade Stand: My Childhood Cancer Bereavement Survey. The survey included questions regarding bereaved parents' attitudes towards PC. RESULTS The survey included 72 bereaved families. Parents completed the survey a median of 11 years after their child's death. PC was involved in 71% of cases. These families were more likely to have do not resuscitate (DNR) orders, an advanced care plan, hospice care, a planned death location, and for their child to die outside the hospital. Although most parents (86%) agreed that it is a doctor's obligation to inform all patients with cancer about PC. PC referrals appeared to happen later than parents preferred. Lack of PC involvement was primarily due to PC not being offered or sudden death of the child. CONCLUSIONS Parental hesitancy should not be viewed as a barrier to PC involvement. Although parents held mixed attitudes about PC, families accepted PC, desired earlier referrals, and believed it was a doctor's obligation to offer PC. These findings highlight the need for timely PC referrals, improved education, and increased awareness of PC services to enhance the integration of PC in pediatric oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Martinez
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship (I.M., E.D., E.J.), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Davis
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship (I.M., E.D., E.J.), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Department of Surgery (E.D.), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Courtney E Wimberly
- Department of Neurosurgery and Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center (C.W., K.W.), Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lisa Towry
- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (L.T.), Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Emily E Johnston
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship (I.M., E.D., E.J.), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics (E.J.), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
| | - Kyle M Walsh
- Department of Neurosurgery and Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center (C.W., K.W.), Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Pediatrics (K.W.), Children's Health and Discovery Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Cancer Institute (K.W.), Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Lindsay ME, de Oliveira S, Sciacca K, Lindvall C, Ananth PJ. Harnessing Natural Language Processing to Assess Quality of End-of-Life Care for Children With Cancer. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2024; 8:e2400134. [PMID: 39265122 PMCID: PMC11407740 DOI: 10.1200/cci.24.00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Data on end-of-life care (EOLC) quality, assessed through evidence-based quality measures (QMs), are difficult to obtain. Natural language processing (NLP) enables efficient quality measurement and is not yet used for children with serious illness. We sought to validate a pediatric-specific EOLC-QM keyword library and evaluate EOLC-QM attainment among childhood cancer decedents. METHODS In a single-center cohort of children with cancer who died between 2014 and 2022, we piloted a rule-based NLP approach to examine the content of clinical notes in the last 6 months of life. We identified documented discussions of five EOLC-QMs: goals of care, limitations to life-sustaining treatments (LLST), hospice, palliative care consultation, and preferred location of death. We assessed performance of NLP methods, compared with gold standard manual chart review. We then used NLP to characterize proportions of decedents with documented EOLC-QM discussions and timing of first documentation relative to death. RESULTS Among 101 decedents, nearly half were minorities (Hispanic/Latinx [24%], non-Hispanic Black/African American [20%]), female (48%), or diagnosed with solid tumors (43%). Through iterative refinement, our keyword library achieved robust performance statistics (for all EOLC-QMs, F1 score = 1.0). Most decedents had documented discussions regarding goals of care (83%), LLST (83%), and hospice (74%). Fewer decedents had documented discussions regarding palliative care consultation (49%) or preferred location of death (36%). For all five EOLC-QMs, first documentation occurred, on average, >30 days before death. CONCLUSION A high proportion of decedents attained specified EOLC-QMs more than 30 days before death. Our findings indicate that NLP is a feasible approach to measuring quality of care for children with cancer at the end of life and is ripe for multi-center research and quality improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan E Lindsay
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT
| | | | - Kate Sciacca
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Charlotta Lindvall
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Prasanna J Ananth
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
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Nilsson S, Öhlén J, Nyblom S, Ozanne A, Stenmarker M, Larsdotter C. Place of death among children from 0 to 17 years of age: A population-based study from Sweden. Acta Paediatr 2024; 113:2155-2163. [PMID: 38819101 DOI: 10.1111/apa.17308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this study is to contribute to the development of paediatric palliative care by investigating, on a population basis, where children in Sweden died, from 2013 to 2019. A particular focus was on comparing two groups: children who died during their first year of life with children who died at 1-17 years of age. METHODS We hypothesised that there might be variations in place of death between the defined groups. Utilising national registry data, descriptive statistics were used to assess the distribution and variations in the place of death. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to ascertain the impact of associated factors. RESULTS Most children died in hospitals (74.7%). The hypothesis postulating divergences in the place of death between age groups was not substantiated. Sex and birthplace showed no significant differences in home deaths. Deaths due to malignancies had a relatively high likelihood of occurring at home (39.0%). For perinatal diagnoses, the incidence of home deaths was relatively low (1.5%). CONCLUSION Children who received support from a specialist palliative service in their own homes were notably less likely to die in a hospital setting compared to those who did not receive such support. An unplanned hospital visit increased the likelihood of hospital death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nilsson
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joakim Öhlén
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Palliative Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Stina Nyblom
- Palliative Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anneli Ozanne
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Margaretha Stenmarker
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Paediatrics, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Larsdotter
- Department of Nursing Science, Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Turner H, Davis ES, Martinez I, Anshumani S, Borasino S, Buckingham S, Caudill C, Dai C, Mendoza E, Moynihan KM, Puttock LA, Tefera R, Bhatia S, Johnston EE. Racial Disparities in Palliative Care at End-of-Life in Children with Advanced Heart Disease in the South. J Pediatr 2024; 276:114284. [PMID: 39218206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine specialty pediatric palliative care (SPPC) and end-of-life care for children with advanced heart disease in Alabama, including rates of and disparities in SPPC involvement. STUDY DESIGN We performed a retrospective study from electronic health records of children (≤21 years at death) who died with advanced heart disease at a single institution between 2012 and 2019 (n = 128). The main outcome was SPPC consult; we assessed clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with SPPC. RESULTS The median age at death was 6 months (IQR = 1-25 months) with 80 (63%) ≤1 year; 46% were Black and 45% non-Hispanic White. Seventy (55%) children had critical congenital heart disease, 45 (35%) non-critical congenital heart disease, and 13 (10%) acquired heart disease. Twenty-nine children (22%) received SPPC. Children ≤1 year at time of death and Black children were less likely to receive SPPC (aOR [95% CI]: 0.2 [0.1-0.6], reference >1 year; 0.2 [0.1-0.7], reference non-Hispanic White). SPPC was associated with death while receiving comfort-focused care (30.6 [4.5-210]), do not resuscitate orders (8.2 [2.1-31.3]), and hospice enrollment (no children without SPPC care were enrolled in hospice) but not medically intense end-of-life care (intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, hemodialysis, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or death outside the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS Children dying with advanced heart disease in Alabama did not have routine SPPC involvement; infants and Black children had lower odds of SPPC. SPPC was associated with more comfort-focused care. Disparities in SPPC utilization for children with advanced heart disease need further examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison Turner
- Graduate Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
| | | | - Isaac Martinez
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Shambihavi Anshumani
- Graduate Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
| | - Santiago Borasino
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Susan Buckingham
- Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Caroline Caudill
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Chen Dai
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Erika Mendoza
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Katie M Moynihan
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Lucas A Puttock
- Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; Palliative Care Service, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA
| | - Raba Tefera
- Department of Surgery, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Smita Bhatia
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Emily E Johnston
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
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6
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Martinez I, Currie E, Davis ES, Kumar R, Lawhon V, Snaman JM, Tefera RB, Bhatia S, Rosenberg AR, Johnston EE. Bereaved parent preferences on quality end-of-life care for children with cancer in the South. Cancer 2024. [PMID: 39155428 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The authors sought to understand bereaved family preferences for end-of-life (EOL) care, particularly among Black families and those in the South. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of children who died of cancer ≥6 months before at Children's of Alabama. Themes were identified via content analysis. Quotes related to medical intensity, chemotherapy, and location of death (LOD) were scored on 5-point Likert scales, ranging from 1 (comfort care, chemotherapy, or home death) to 5 (medically intense care, avoidance of chemotherapy, or hospital death). RESULTS Twenty-seven bereaved parents (12 Black) were interviewed. Children died at a mean of 13.1 years (SD = 6.1 years) and a median of 3 years before the interview (range = 1-12 years). Ten children (42%) had central nervous system tumors and the majority (63%) died in the hospital. Family decision-making involved maintaining hope, not causing harm, doing what was best for their child and themselves, and religious beliefs. There was no clear preference for home versus hospital death (3.0 [1.8-4.0]). Instead, parents considered their child's desires and/or medical needs, siblings, and prior experiences with death. To have a comfortable death, parents highlighted the need for comprehensive education about their child's EOL, a caring and comfortable environment, and 24/7 access to their care team. Families expressed a dual preference for comfort care (1.8 [1.3-2.8]) and chemotherapy (3.5 [2.7-4.1]) at EOL. CONCLUSIONS Families did not see chemotherapy and comfort care as conflicting goals. They sought quality care emphasizing flexibility, quality time with their child, and open access to their care team, regardless of LOD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Martinez
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Erin Currie
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Davis
- Department of Surgery, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rohail Kumar
- Division of Pediatric Palliative Medicine, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Roger Neilson House, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Valerie Lawhon
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jennifer M Snaman
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Raba B Tefera
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Smita Bhatia
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emily E Johnston
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Boyden JY, Umaretiya PJ, D'Souza L, Johnston EE. Disparities in Pediatric Palliative Care: Where Are We and Where Do We Go from Here? J Pediatr 2024; 275:114194. [PMID: 39004168 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jackelyn Y Boyden
- Department of Family and Community Health, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Puja J Umaretiya
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Louise D'Souza
- Department of Family and Community Health, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Emily E Johnston
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
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Wimberly CE, Davis ES, Towry L, Walsh KM, Johnston EE. Psychosocial burden after the death of a child from cancer: Results of a bereaved parent survey. DEATH STUDIES 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38958178 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2024.2371074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Parents experience lasting psychological distress after a child's death from cancer. Limited evidence exists regarding difficult life events, duration of psychosocial impacts, and associated risk factors among bereaved parents. Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation surveyed self-selected, bereaved parents regarding difficult life events and psychosocial wellbeing (life satisfaction, unanswered questions, and missing the care team) through a public, cross-sectional survey. 176 bereaved parents (89% mothers) participated a median of 7 y after their child's death. The most difficult events were family vacations (80%), their child's birthday (80%), and anniversary of their child's death (76%). Only the latter did not improve with time. Greater life satisfaction was associated with male sex (ARR = 1.2, 95% CI:1.1-1.4) and being married/partnered (ARR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0-1.3). Having unanswered questions and missing the child's team were associated with annual income <$50,000 (ARR = 1.2, 95% CI:1.1-1.2; ARR = 1.2, 95% CI:1.0-1.3, respectively). Pediatric oncology programs need robust bereavement programs that include prolonged contact with families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney E Wimberly
- Department of Neurosurgery and Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Davis
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lisa Towry
- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kyle M Walsh
- Department of Neurosurgery and Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Children's Health and Discovery Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Emily E Johnston
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Mack JW, Cernik C, Xu L, Laurent CA, Fisher L, Cannizzaro N, Munneke J, Cooper RM, Lakin JR, Schwartz CM, Casperson M, Altschuler A, Wiener L, Kushi LH, Chao CR, Uno H. Use of cancer-directed therapy at the end of life among adolescents and young adults. J Natl Cancer Inst 2024; 116:1080-1086. [PMID: 38377408 PMCID: PMC11223859 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescents and young adults frequently receive chemotherapy near death. We know less about the use of targeted agents and immunotherapy or trends over time. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1836 adolescents and young adults with cancer who died between 2009 and 2019 after receiving care at 1 of 3 sites (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, and Kaiser Permanente Southern California). We reviewed electronic health data and medical records to examine use of cancer-directed therapy in the last 90 days of life, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and investigational drugs. RESULTS Over the study period, 35% of adolescents and young adults received chemotherapy in the last 90 days of life; 24% received targeted therapy, 7% immunotherapy, and 5% investigational drugs. Additionally, 56% received at least 1 form of systemic cancer-directed therapy in the last 90 days of life. After adjustment for patient sex, race, ethnicity, age, site of care, diagnosis, and years from diagnosis to death, the proportion of adolescents and young adults receiving targeted therapy (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05 per year of death, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02 to 1.10; P = .006), immunotherapy (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.18 to 1.38; P < .0001), and any cancer-directed therapy (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.08; P = .01) in the last 90 days of life increased over time. CONCLUSIONS More than half of adolescents and young adults receive cancer therapy in the last 90 days of life, and use of novel agents such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy is increasing over time. Although some adolescents and young adults may wish to continue cancer therapy while living with advanced disease, efforts are needed to ensure that use of cancer-directed therapy meets preferences of adolescents and young adults approaching death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer W Mack
- Division of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Colin Cernik
- Division of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lanfang Xu
- MedHealth Statistical Consulting Inc, Solon, OH, USA
| | - Cecile A Laurent
- Division of Research, Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Lauren Fisher
- Division of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nancy Cannizzaro
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Julie Munneke
- Division of Research, Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Robert M Cooper
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Joshua R Lakin
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Corey M Schwartz
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | | | - Andrea Altschuler
- Division of Research, Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Lori Wiener
- Psychosocial Support and Research Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lawrence H Kushi
- Division of Research, Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Chun R Chao
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Hajime Uno
- Division of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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10
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Ting J, Songer K, Bailey V, Rotman C, Lipsitz S, Rosenberg AR, Delgado-Corcoran C, Moynihan KM. Impact of Subspecialty Pediatric Palliative Care on Children with Heart Disease; A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Pediatr Cardiol 2024:10.1007/s00246-024-03535-4. [PMID: 38907871 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-024-03535-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
While many experts in pediatric cardiology have emphasized the importance of palliative care involvement, very few studies have assessed the influence of specialty pediatric palliative care (SPPC) involvement for children with heart disease. We conducted a systematic review using keywords related to palliative care, quality of life and care-satisfaction, and heart disease. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Web of Science in December 2023. Screening, data extraction and methodology followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. Pairs of trained reviewers independently evaluated each article. All full texts excluded from the review were hand-screened for eligible references including systematic reviews in general pediatric populations. Two reviewers independently extracted: (1) study design; (2) methodology; (2) setting; (3) population; (4) intervention/exposure and control definition; (5) outcome measures; and (6) results. Of 4059 studies screened, 9 met inclusion criteria including two with overlapping patient data. Study designs were heterogenous, including only one randomized control and two historical control trials with SPPC as a prospective intervention. Overall, there was moderate to high risk of bias. Seven were single centers studies. In combined estimates, patients who received SPPC were more likely to have advance care planning documented (RR 2.7, [95%CI 1.6, 4.7], p < 0.001) and resuscitation limits (RR 4.0, [2.0, 8.1], p < 0.001), while half as likely to have active resuscitation at end-of-life ([0.3, 0.9], p = 0.032). For parental stress, receipt of SPPC improved scores by almost half a standard deviation (RR 0.48, 95%CI 0.10, 0.86) more than controls. Ultimately, we identified a paucity of high-quality data studying the influence of SPPC; however, findings correlate with literature in other pediatric populations. Findings suggest benefits of SPPC integration for patients with heart disease and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Ting
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kathryn Songer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Valerie Bailey
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, MS BCH3215, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Chloe Rotman
- Medical Library, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stuart Lipsitz
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Center for Patient Safety, Research, and Practice, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Katie M Moynihan
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, MS BCH3215, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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11
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Williams E, White C, Banerjee A, Hellsten M, Nobleza KJ, Nguyen DT, Casas J, Jarrell JA. Quality of Outpatient Pediatric Palliative Care Telehealth: A Retrospective Chart Review. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 67:561-570.e1. [PMID: 38514022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Studies suggest the feasibility and acceptability of telehealth in outpatient pediatric palliative care. However, there is a need for data that describes the implementation and quality of telehealth, relying on objective and validated measures. OBJECTIVE We sought to compare the provision of pediatric palliative care by delivery method. METHODS We conducted a retrospective electronic health record review of patients seen by our outpatient palliative care team over a two-year period. Demographic, diagnostic, and health utilization data as well as encounter characteristics were compared between patients seen in person (IP), through telehealth (TH), and both (IP/TH). RESULTS Three hundred ninety-four patients were evaluated with 889 outpatient pediatric palliative care encounters. Non-English speaking patients were less likely to receive palliative care through TH, as were patients without active patient portals. Median follow-up time was longer for patients seen through TH or IP/TH. Patients with malignancies were seen more frequently IP while children with neurologic diagnoses, technology dependence, and a higher number of complex chronic conditions were seen more frequently via TH. Health outcomes, end of life quality metrics, and encounter-level quality indicators were similar across care delivery methods. Review of systems, pain, and mood management, and advance care planning happened more frequently IP while goals of care discussions and medical decision-making happened more through TH. CONCLUSION Despite differences in patients seen and palliative interventions provided in person compared to telehealth, health outcomes, and quality indicators were similar across care delivery methods. These data support the continued practice of telehealth in palliative care and highlight the need for equity in its evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Williams
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine (E.W., C.W., A.B., M.H., K.J.N., D.T.N.,J.C., J.A.J.), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Catrina White
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine (E.W., C.W., A.B., M.H., K.J.N., D.T.N.,J.C., J.A.J.), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ankona Banerjee
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine (E.W., C.W., A.B., M.H., K.J.N., D.T.N.,J.C., J.A.J.), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Melody Hellsten
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine (E.W., C.W., A.B., M.H., K.J.N., D.T.N.,J.C., J.A.J.), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kenneth J Nobleza
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine (E.W., C.W., A.B., M.H., K.J.N., D.T.N.,J.C., J.A.J.), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Duc T Nguyen
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine (E.W., C.W., A.B., M.H., K.J.N., D.T.N.,J.C., J.A.J.), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jessica Casas
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine (E.W., C.W., A.B., M.H., K.J.N., D.T.N.,J.C., J.A.J.), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jill Ann Jarrell
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine (E.W., C.W., A.B., M.H., K.J.N., D.T.N.,J.C., J.A.J.), Houston, Texas, USA.
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12
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Broden EG, Bailey VK, Beke DM, Snaman JM, Moynihan KM. Dying and Death in a Pediatric Cardiac ICU: Mixed Methods Evaluation of Multidisciplinary Staff Responses. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2024; 25:e91-e102. [PMID: 37678228 DOI: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000003357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Understanding factors influencing quality of pediatric end-of-life (EOL) care is necessary to identify interventions to improve family and staff experiences. We characterized pediatric cardiac ICU (PCICU) staff free-text survey responses to contextualize patterns in quality of dying and death (QODD) scoring. DESIGN This mixed methods study reports on a cross-sectional survey of PCICU staff involved in patient deaths. SETTING Single, quaternary PCICU from 2019-2021. PARTICIPANTS Multidisciplinary staff (bedside nurses, allied health professionals, and medical practitioners) rated QODD and voluntarily added free-text responses. We derived descriptive categories of free-text responses using content analysis. Response sentiment was classified as positive, negative or both positive and negative. We compared category and sentiment frequency by discipline, EOL medical intensity, years of experience and QODD score quartiles. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Of 60 deaths and 713 completed staff surveys, 269 (38%) contained free-text responses, including 103 of 269 (38%) from nurses. Of six qualitative categories (i.e., relational dynamics, clinical circumstances, family experiences, emotional expressions, temporal conditions, and structural/situational factors), relational dynamics was most frequent (173 responses). When compared by discipline, family experiences were more common in nursing responses than medical practitioners or allied health. High intensity was associated with infrequent discussion of family experience and greater focus on temporal conditions and clinical circumstances. Emotional expressions and temporal conditions were more common in lowest QODD quartile surveys. Although 45% staff responses contained both sentiments, relational dynamics and family experiences were more likely positive. Negative sentiments were more common in the lowest QODD quartile surveys and responses containing temporal conditions or structural/situational factors. CONCLUSIONS Synergistic relationships between the multidisciplinary team and family shaped clinician's positive responses. Attention to team dynamics may be a crucial ingredient in interventions to improve EOL care. Our data support that team-based education initiatives should consider differential foci between disciplines and EOL characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G Broden
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Valerie K Bailey
- Cardiovascular and Critical Care Nursing Patient Services, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Dorothy M Beke
- Cardiovascular and Critical Care Nursing Patient Services, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Jennifer M Snaman
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Katie M Moynihan
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Cardiovascular and Critical Care Nursing Patient Services, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
- Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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13
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Lacerda A, Martínez MA, Dumont B, Leiss U, Kokkinou G, Scheinemann K, Craig F. Embracing paediatric palliative care in paediatric oncology from diagnosis onwards. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e30561. [PMID: 37430425 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Paediatric palliative care aims to support children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, and their families, from the time of diagnosis. Early integration within oncology has been recognised as having benefits for all involved, whatever the outcome may be. Through improved communication and advance care planning, it enables user-centred care, where concerns about quality of life, preferences and values are given the same relevance as cutting-edge therapy. Challenges to the integration of palliative care within paediatric oncology include raising awareness and providing education, whilst searching for the best care model and adapting to an ever-changing therapeutic scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lacerda
- SIOP Europe Palliative Care Working Group Steering Committee, Brussels, Belgium
- European Association for Palliative Care Children and Young People Reference Group, Vilvoorde, Belgium
- Department of Paediatrics, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - María Avilés Martínez
- SIOP Europe Palliative Care Working Group Steering Committee, Brussels, Belgium
- Paediatric Palliative Care Unit, Niño Jesús Children's University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Nursing, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Benoît Dumont
- SIOP Europe Palliative Care Working Group Steering Committee, Brussels, Belgium
- Paediatric Hematology and Oncology Institute, Léon Bérard Cancer Center, Lyon, France
| | - Ulrike Leiss
- SIOP Europe Palliative Care Working Group Steering Committee, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georgia Kokkinou
- SIOP Europe Palliative Care Working Group Steering Committee, Brussels, Belgium
- Floga - Parents Association of Children with Cancer, Athens, Greece
- Childhood Cancer International Europe, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katrin Scheinemann
- SIOP Europe Palliative Care Working Group Steering Committee, Brussels, Belgium
- Division of Oncology-Haematology, Department of Paediatrics, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
- Department of Paediatrics, McMaster Children's Hospital and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Finella Craig
- SIOP Europe Palliative Care Working Group Steering Committee, Brussels, Belgium
- European Association for Palliative Care Children and Young People Reference Group, Vilvoorde, Belgium
- Louis Dundas Paediatric Palliative Care Centre, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
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14
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Levine A, Winn PA, Fogel AH, Lelkes E, McPoland P, Agrawal AK, Bogetz JF. Barriers to Pediatric Palliative Care: Trainee and Faculty Perspectives Across Two Academic Centers. J Palliat Med 2023; 26:1348-1356. [PMID: 37318791 PMCID: PMC10623063 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Barriers to palliative care for children with serious illness include system constraints and vastly different training and attitudes toward palliative care. This study aimed to explore trainee and faculty physician perceptions of barriers to palliative care across two pediatric centers to (1) examine differences between trainees and faculty and (2) compare these data with previous studies. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted in fall 2021 among pediatric trainees and faculty physicians at three pediatric hospitals in two pediatric centers in the western United States. Surveys were distributed through hospital listservs and analyzed descriptively and through inductive thematic analysis. Results: There were a total of 268 participants: 50 trainees and 218 faculty physicians. Of the trainees, 46% (23) were fellows and 54% (27) were pediatric residents. Trainees and faculty reported the same four most common barriers, which were consistent with previous studies: family not ready to acknowledge an incurable condition (64% trainees and 45% faculty); family preference for more life-sustaining therapies than staff (52% and 39%); uncertain prognosis (48% and 38%); and parent discomfort with possibility of hastening death (44% and 30%). Other barriers commonly reported included time constraints, staff shortages, and conflict among family about treatment goals. Language barriers and cultural differences were also cited. Conclusions: This study examining palliative care across two pediatric centers suggests that providers' perceptions of family preferences and understanding of illness persist as barriers to the delivery of pediatric palliative care services. Future research should examine family-centered and culturally mindful interventions to better elucidate family perspectives on their child's illness to align care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Levine
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Phoebe A. Winn
- Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Alexis H. Fogel
- Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Efrat Lelkes
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Paula McPoland
- Division of Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Anurag K. Agrawal
- Divisions of Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Jori F. Bogetz
- Division of Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
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15
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Piette V, Deliens L, Debulpaep S, Cohen J, Beernaert K. Appropriateness of end-of-life care for children with genetic and congenital conditions: a cohort study using routinely collected linked data. Eur J Pediatr 2023; 182:3857-3869. [PMID: 37328636 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05030-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the appropriateness of end-of-life care for children with genetic and congenital conditions. This is a decedent cohort study. We used 6 linked, Belgian, routinely collected, population-level databases containing children (1-17) who died with genetic and congenital conditions in Belgium between 2010 and 2017. We measured 22 quality indicators, face-validated using a previously published RAND/UCLA methodology. Appropriateness of care was defined as the overall "expected health benefit" of given healthcare interventions within a healthcare system exceeding expected negative outcomes. In the 8-year study period, 200 children were identified to have died with genetic and congenital conditions. Concerning appropriateness of care, in the last month before death, 79% of children had contact with specialist physicians, 17% had contact with a family physician, and 5% received multidisciplinary care. Palliative care was used by 17% of the children. Concerning inappropriateness of care, 51% of the children received blood drawings in the last week before death, and 29% received diagnostics and monitoring (2 or more magnetic resonance imaging scans, computed tomography scans, or X-rays) in the last month. Conclusion: Findings suggest end-of-life care could be improved in terms of palliative care, contact with a family physician and paramedics, and diagnostics and monitoring in the form of imaging. What is Known: • Previous studies suggest that end-of life care for children with genetic and congenital conditions may be subject to issues with bereavement, psychological concerns for child and family, financial cost at the end of life, decision-making when using technological interventions, availability and coordination of services, and palliative care provision. Bereaved parents of children with genetic and congenital conditions have previously evaluated end-of-life care as poor or fair, and some have reported that their children suffered a lot to a great deal at the end of life. • However, no peer-reviewed population-level quality evaluation of end-of-life care for this population is currently present. What is New: • This study provides an evaluation of the appropriateness of end-of-life care for children who died in Belgium with genetic and congenital conditions between 2010 and 2017, using administrative healthcare data and validated quality indicators. The concept of appropriateness is denoted as relative and indicative within the study, not as a definitive judgement. • Our study suggests improvements in end-of-life care may be possible, for instance, in terms of the provision of palliative care, contact with care providers next to the specialist physician, and diagnostics and monitoring in terms of imaging (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scans). Further empirical research is necessary, for instance, into unforeseen and foreseen end-of-life trajectories, to make definitive conclusions about appropriateness of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veerle Piette
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Deliens
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Sara Debulpaep
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joachim Cohen
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kim Beernaert
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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16
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Broden EG, Mazzola E, DeCourcey DD, Blume ED, Wolfe J, Snaman JM. The roles of preparation, location, and palliative care involvement in parent-perceived child suffering at the end of life. J Pediatr Nurs 2023; 72:e166-e173. [PMID: 37355461 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2023.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Parents' perceptions of their child's suffering affect their bereavement experience. Identifying factors that shape parental perceptions of suffering could help build effective supportive interventions for children and parents navigating EOL and grief. We aimed to compare parent-perceived child suffering between diagnostic groups and identify related factors. DESIGN AND METHODS We combined databases from 3 surveys of parents whose children who died following cancer, a complex chronic condition (CCC), or advanced heart disease. We built multivariable logistic regression models to identify relationships between parent-perceived child suffering and parent/child, illness experience, and care-related factors. RESULTS Among 277 parents, 41% rated their child's suffering as moderate or high. Fifty-seven percent of parents whose child died from cancer reported that their child suffered "a lot" or "a great deal" at EOL, compared to 33% whose child died from a CCC, and 17% whose child died from heart disease (P < 0.001). Preparation for EOL symptoms was associated with decreased parent-perceived child suffering in multivariable modeling, with parents who were prepared for EOL 68% less likely to rate their child's suffering as high compared to those who felt unprepared (AOR: 0.32, CI [0.13-0.77], P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS Preparing families for their child's EOL may help mitigate lingering perceptions of suffering. Operationalizing preparation is crucial to optimizing family support during EOL care. IMPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE Preparation for symptoms, and access to resources, including medical/psychosocial interventions and staff, may help ease parental perception of EOL suffering. Clinicians should prioritize preparing families for what to expect during a child's dying process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G Broden
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Emanuele Mazzola
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Danielle D DeCourcey
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Medical Critical Care, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth D Blume
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joanne Wolfe
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Snaman
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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17
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Mack JW, Fisher L, Khalaj A, Altschuler A, Chao CR, Kushi LH, Casperson M, Lakin JR, Lefebvre A, Schwartz CM, Shalman DM, Wall CB, Wiener L. Quality Indicators for Adolescents and Young Adults With Advanced Cancer: A Modified Delphi Process With Patients, Family Members, and Clinicians. J Pain Symptom Manage 2023; 66:54-61. [PMID: 36933749 PMCID: PMC10330073 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Quality measures have been devised for end-of-life care of older adults with cancer, but are lacking for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). OBJECTIVE We previously conducted interviews with AYAs, family caregivers, and clinicians to identify priority domains for high quality care of AYAs with advanced cancer. The goal of this study was to use a modified Delphi process to form consensus around the highest priority quality indicators. METHODS A modified Delphi process was conducted with 10 AYAs with recurrent or metastatic cancer, 11 family caregivers, and 29 multidisciplinary clinicians, using small group web conferences. Participants were asked to rate the importance of each of 41 potential quality indicators, rank the 10 most important, and engage in discussion to reconcile differences. RESULTS Of 41 initial indicators, 34 were rated as highly important (rating seven, eight, or nine on a nine-point scale) by >70% of participants. The panel was unable to reach consensus around the 10 most important indicators. Instead, participants recommended retaining a larger set of indicators to reflect potential for different priorities across the population, resulting in a final set of 32 indicators. Recommended indicators broadly encompassed attention to physical symptoms; quality of life; psychosocial, and spiritual care; communication and decision-making; relationships with clinicians; care and treatment; and independence. CONCLUSION A patient- and family-centered process for quality indicator development led to strong endorsement of multiple potential indicators by Delphi participants. Further validation and refinement will be performed using a survey of bereaved family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer W Mack
- Division of Population Sciences (JWM, LF, AK), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.; Department of Pediatric Oncology (JWM, AL, CBW), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S..
| | - Lauren Fisher
- Division of Population Sciences (JWM, LF, AK), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S
| | - Andrew Khalaj
- Division of Population Sciences (JWM, LF, AK), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S
| | - Andrea Altschuler
- Department of Pediatric Oncology (JWM, AL, CBW), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.; Division of Research (LHK, AA), Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, U.S
| | - Chun R Chao
- Department of Research and Evaluation (CRC), Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California, U.S
| | - Lawrence H Kushi
- Division of Research (LHK, AA), Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, U.S
| | | | - Joshua R Lakin
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care (JRL), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S
| | - Anna Lefebvre
- Department of Pediatric Oncology (JWM, AL, CBW), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S
| | - Corey M Schwartz
- Medical Oncology (CMS), Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, U.S
| | - Dov M Shalman
- Palliative Care (DMS), Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California, U.S
| | - Catherine B Wall
- Department of Pediatric Oncology (JWM, AL, CBW), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S
| | - Lori Wiener
- Psychosocial Support and Research Program (LW), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S
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18
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Boyden JY, Bogetz JF, Johnston EE, Thienprayoon R, Williams CSP, McNeil MJ, Patneaude A, Widger KA, Rosenberg AR, Ananth P. Measuring Pediatric Palliative Care Quality: Challenges and Opportunities. J Pain Symptom Manage 2023; 65:e483-e495. [PMID: 36736860 PMCID: PMC10106436 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric palliative care (PPC) programs vary widely in structure, staffing, funding, and patient census, resulting in inconsistency in service provision. Improving the quality of palliative care for children living with serious illness and their families requires measuring care quality, ensuring that quality measurement is embedded into day-to-day clinical practice, and aligning quality measurement with healthcare policy priorities. Yet, numerous challenges exist in measuring PPC quality. This paper provides an overview of PPC quality measurement, including challenges, current initiatives, and future opportunities. While important strides toward addressing quality measurement challenges in PPC have been made, including ongoing quality measurement initiatives like the Cambia Metrics Project, the PPC What Matters Most study, and collaborative learning networks, more work remains. Providing high-quality PPC to all children and families will require a multi-pronged approach. In this paper, we suggest several strategies for advancing high-quality PPC, which includes 1) considering how and by whom success is defined, 2) evaluating, adapting, and developing PPC measures, including those that address care disparities within PPC for historically marginalized and excluded communities, 3) improving the infrastructure with which to routinely and prospectively measure, monitor, and report clinical and administrative quality measures, 4) increasing endorsement of PPC quality measures by prominent quality organizations to facilitate accountability and possible reimbursement, and 5) integrating PPC-specific quality measures into the administrative, funding, and policy landscape of pediatric healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackelyn Y Boyden
- Department of Family and Community Health, School of Nursing (J.Y.B.), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Jori F Bogetz
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care (J.F.B.), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA; Center for Clinical and Translational Research (J.F.B.), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Emily E Johnston
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology (E.E.J.), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham (E.E.J.), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Rachel Thienprayoon
- Department of Anesthesia, Division of Palliative Care, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (R.T.), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (R.T.), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Conrad S P Williams
- Palliative Care Program and Department of Pediatrics (C.S.P.W.), Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Michael J McNeil
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Global Pediatric Medicine (M.J.M.), Memphis, Tennessee, USA; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Division of Quality and Life and Palliative Care, Department of Oncology (M.J.M.), Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Arika Patneaude
- Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Hospital (A.P.), Seattle, Washington, USA; University of Washington School of Social Work (A.P.), Seattle, Washington, USA; Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics (A.P.), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kimberley A Widger
- Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing (K.A.W.), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hospital for Sick Children (K.A.W.), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care (A.R.S.), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School (A.R.S.), Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Prasanna Ananth
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine (P.A.), New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center (P.A.), New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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19
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Bogetz JF, Johnston EE, Thienprayoon R, Patneaude A, Ananth P, Rosenberg AR. Development of Primary Palliative Care End-of-Life Quality Measures: A Modified Delphi Process. Pediatrics 2022; 150:190108. [PMID: 36437228 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-058241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) and their families deserve high-quality pediatric palliative care (PPC) throughout their illness trajectory, including at end of life (EOL). Standard EOL quality measures (QM) have only recently been proposed, require surveys and/or manual chart review, and focus on children with cancer. Therefore, we aimed to develop expert-endorsed, hospital-based, primary PPC quality measures for EOL care for all children with CCCs that could be automatically abstracted from the electronic health record (EHR). METHODS We followed a modified Delphi approach for expert opinion gathering, including: (1) a comprehensive literature review of existing adult and pediatric measures (>200 measures); (2) formation of a multidisciplinary expert panel (n = 9); (3) development of a list of candidate measures (20 measures); (4) national survey to assess each QM's importance and abstraction feasibility and propose new measures (respondents = 95); and (5) final expert panel endorsement. RESULTS Seventeen EHR-abstractable QM were endorsed in 5 domains: (1) health care utilization: 4 measures (eg, <2 emergency department visits in the last 30 days of life); (2) interprofessional services: 4 measures (eg, PPC in the last 30 days of life); (3) medical intensity: 5 measures (eg, death outside the ICU); (4) symptom management: 2 measures (eg, documented pain score within 24 hours of admission); and (5) communication: 2 measures (eg, code status documentation). CONCLUSIONS This study developed a list of EHR-abstractable, hospital-based primary PPC EOL QM, providing a foundation for quality improvement initiatives and further measure development in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jori F Bogetz
- Divisions of Bioethics and Palliative Care.,Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics.,Palliative Care and Resilience Laboratory, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.,Contributed equally as co-first authors
| | - Emily E Johnston
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics.,Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama.,Contributed equally as co-first authors
| | - Rachel Thienprayoon
- Division of Palliative Care, Departments of Anesthesia and Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Cincinnati, Ohio.,Departments of Anesthesia and Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Arika Patneaude
- Divisions of Bioethics and Palliative Care.,Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics.,University of Washington School of Social Work, Seattle, Washington
| | - Prasanna Ananth
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics.,Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.,Palliative Care and Resilience Laboratory, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
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20
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Ananth P, Wolfe J, Johnston EE. Charting a path to high-quality end-of-life care for children with cancer. Cancer 2022; 128:3586-3592. [PMID: 36006762 PMCID: PMC9530011 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
There are currently no quality measures for end-of-life (EOL) care for children with cancer. In this commentary, we address why it is essential that we develop quality measures for EOL care for children with cancer, review the progress made to date, and chart the course for future work in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna Ananth
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research Center, New Haven, CT
| | - Joanne Wolfe
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Emily E. Johnston
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
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21
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Ananth P, Lindsay M, Nye R, Mun S, Feudtner C, Wolfe J. End-of-life care quality for children with cancer who receive palliative care. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29841. [PMID: 35686746 PMCID: PMC10498672 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously developed stakeholder-informed quality measures to assess end-of-life care quality for children with cancer. We sought to implement a subset of these quality measures in the multi-center pediatric palliative care (PPC) database. PROCEDURES We utilized the Shared Data and Research database to evaluate the proportion of childhood cancer decedents from 2017-2021 who, in the last 30 days of life, avoided chemotherapy, mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admissions, and > 1 hospital admission; were enrolled in hospice services, and reported ≤ 2 highly distressing symptoms. We then explored patient factors associated with the attainment of quality benchmarks. RESULTS Across 79 decedents, 82% met ≥ 4 quality benchmarks. Most (76%) reported > 2 highly distressing symptoms; 17% were enrolled in hospice. In univariable analyses, patients with an annual household income ≤$50,000 had lower odds of hospice enrollment and avoidance of mechanical ventilation or intensive care unit admissions near end of life (odds ratio [OR] 0.10 [95% confidence interval (C.I.) 0.01, 0.86], p = 0.04; OR 0.13 [0.02, 0.64], p = 0.01; OR 0.36 [0.13, 0.98], p = 0.04, respectively). In multivariable analyses, patients with an income ≤$50,000 remained less likely to enroll in hospice, after adjusting for cancer type (OR 0.10 [0.01, 0.87]; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Childhood cancer decedents who received PPC met a large proportion of quality measures near the end of their life. Yet, many reported highly distressing symptoms. Moreover, patients with lower household incomes appeared less likely to enroll in hospice and more likely to receive intensive hospital services near the end of life. This study identifies opportunities for palliative oncology quality improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna Ananth
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Meghan Lindsay
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Russell Nye
- Justin Michael Ingerman Center for Palliative Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Departments of Pediatrics, Medical Ethics, and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sophia Mun
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Chris Feudtner
- Justin Michael Ingerman Center for Palliative Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Departments of Pediatrics, Medical Ethics, and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joanne Wolfe
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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22
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Bogetz JF, Johnston E, Ananth P, Patneaude A, Thienprayoon R, Rosenberg AR. Survey of Pediatric Palliative Care Quality Improvement Training, Activities, and Barriers. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022; 64:e123-e131. [PMID: 35577143 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.04.182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Children with serious illness deserve high-quality pediatric palliative care (PPC). With expansion of PPC provision, it is important to understand the quality improvement (QI) activities of PPC clinicians and programs. OBJECTIVES To describe the 1) background, education/training, and activities in QI and 2) perceived barriers to QI efforts among PPC clinicians and programs nationally. METHODS An electronic survey was sent to members of the Pediatric Palliative Improvement Network, the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care Pediatric Task Force, and the PPC Research Network as part of a study to develop hospital-based, primary PPC quality measures. Surveys queried participants' background, education/training, individual/team QI efforts, and barriers to QI work. Results were summarized descriptively. RESULTS Of the 95 respondents; most were female (84 [88%]) and/or white (84 [88%]). The majority (57 [54%]) were physicians, although participants represented a variety of clinical disciplines, researchers (10 [9%]), and administrators (6 [6%]). One-quarter (25 [26%]) reported having <10 hours total of training in QI, yet two-third (63 [66%]) participated in QI work. About one-third (35 [37%]) reported that their program had no dedicated staff for QI activities, yet over half (56 [59%]) of participants reported that their team participated in QI work. Participants reported that lack of personnel/time, standardized measures/tools, education/training/mentoring in QI, systems to promote QI work, and financing/grants were barriers. CONCLUSION Over half of PPC participants in this study reported involvement in QI activities despite limited staffing/time, QI training, and standardized measures, which presents challenges to this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jori F Bogetz
- Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care (J.F.B.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.
| | - Emily Johnston
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology (E.J.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine; Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, UAB School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Prasanna Ananth
- Department of Pediatrics (P.A.), Yale School of Medicine, Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Arika Patneaude
- Bioethics and Palliative Care (A.P.), Seattle Children's Hospital, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Washington School of Social Work, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Rachel Thienprayoon
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (R.T.), Department of Anesthesia, Division of Palliative Care, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Division of Hematology and Oncology (A.R.R.), Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
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23
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Merkel E, Rosenberg AR. Quality measures in end-of-life care among pediatric cancer patients: A lever for optimizing comfort and improving equity. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29883. [PMID: 35815834 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Merkel
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Palliative Care and Resilience Program, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Palliative Care and Resilience Program, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
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24
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Brock KE, DeGroote NP, Roche A, Lee A, Wasilewski K. The Supportive Care Clinic: A Novel Model of Embedded Pediatric Palliative Oncology Care. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022; 64:287-297.e1. [PMID: 35618251 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Pediatric palliative care (PPC) improves quality of life and end-of-life outcomes for children with cancer, but often occurs late in the disease course. The Supportive Care Clinic (SCC) was launched in 2017 to expand outpatient PPC access. OBJECTIVES To describe the inaugural four years (2017-2021) of an academic, consultative, embedded SCC within pediatric oncology. METHODS Descriptive statistics (demographic, disease, treatment, visit, and end-of-life) and change over time were calculated. RESULTS During the first four years, 248 patients (51.6% male; 58.1% White; 35.5% Black; 13.7% Hispanic/Latino) were seen in SCC, totaling 1,143 clinic visits (median 4, IQR 2,6), including 248 consultations and 895 follow-up visits. Clinic visits grew nearly 300% from year one to four. Primary diagnoses were central nervous system tumor (41.9%), solid tumor (37.5%), and leukemia/lymphoma (17.3%). The first point of PPC contact became SCC (70.6%) for most referred patients. Among the 136 deceased patients (54.8%), 77.9% had a do-not-resuscitate or Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment in place, and 72.8% received hospice care. When known (n = 112), 89.3% died in their preferred location. The time from SCC consultation to death increased from 74 to 226 days over the four years (P < 0.0001). The proportion of SCC consultations that occurred greater than 90 days from death increased from 39.1% in year one to 85.0% in year four. CONCLUSION Embedded SCC clinics can be successful, achieve steady growth, improve referrals and timing of PPC, and enhance end-of-life care for children with cancer. Large pediatric cancer centers should include SCC outpatient services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine E Brock
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (K.E.B., N.P.D., A.R., K.W.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (K.E.B., K.W.), Emory University. Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Palliative Care (K.E.B.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
| | - Nicholas P DeGroote
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (K.E.B., N.P.D., A.R., K.W.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anna Roche
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (K.E.B., N.P.D., A.R., K.W.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Annika Lee
- Emory University School of Medicine (A.L.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karen Wasilewski
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (K.E.B., N.P.D., A.R., K.W.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (K.E.B., K.W.), Emory University. Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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25
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Johnston EE, Davis ES, Bhatia S, Kenzik K. Location of death and hospice use in children with cancer varies by type of health insurance. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29521. [PMID: 34962704 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disparities in end-of-life (EOL) care for children with cancer remain understudied. We addressed this gap by examining patterns of EOL care, with a focus on location of death and hospice utilization. METHODS We used MarketScan - a nationally representative dataset with Medicaid and commercial claims to conduct a retrospective observational study of children with cancer who died between 2011 and 2017 at age ≤21 years. We examined rates of (a) home death, (b) hospice utilization, (c) and medically intense interventions in the last 30 days (e.g., intubation). RESULTS Of the 1492 children in the cohort, 44% had Medicaid and 56% commercial insurance; 71% carried a solid tumor diagnosis, and 37% were between the ages of 15 and 21 years at the time of death. Forty percent died at home; children with Medicaid were less likely to die at home (relative risk [RR] = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-0.92; reference: commercial). Forty-five percent enrolled in hospice, for a median of 2 days. Hospice enrollment rates did not vary with insurance. However, children with Medicaid spent less time enrolled (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.17-0.27). Among children with Medicaid, Black children were less likely to die at home (RR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.52-0.92) and enroll on hospice (RR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55-0.91) than non-Hispanic White children. Medically intense interventions did not vary with insurance or race. CONCLUSION Only 40% of children with cancer die at home, and the duration of hospice enrollment is short. EOL care varies significantly with insurance. It is imperative that we determine if these patterns and disparities represent EOL preferences, provider biases, or differences in quality or availability of hospice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Johnston
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Davis
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Smita Bhatia
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kelly Kenzik
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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26
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Moynihan KM, Ziniel SI, Johnston E, Morell E, Pituch K, Blume ED. A "Good Death" for Children with Cardiac Disease. Pediatr Cardiol 2022; 43:744-755. [PMID: 34854941 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-021-02781-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Children with heart disease often experience symptoms and medically intense end-of-life care. Our study explored bereaved parents' perceptions of a "good death" via a mail survey to 128 parents of children with heart disease who died in two centers. Parental perceptions of end-of-life circumstances were assessed by closed-ended questions including level of agreement with the question: "would you say your child experienced a good death?" and open-ended comments were contributed. Medical therapies at end-of-life and mode of death were retrieved through chart review. Of 50 responding parents, 44 (response rate: 34%) responded to the "good death" question; 16 (36%) agreed strongly, 15 (34%) agreed somewhat, and 30% disagreed (somewhat: 7, 16%; strongly: 6, 14%). Half the children were on mechanical support and 84% intubated at death. Of children with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at end-of-life, 71% of parents disagreed with the "good death" question compared with 22% of parents whose child died following discontinuation of life-sustaining therapy or comfort measures (OR 9.1, 95% CI 1.3, 48.9, p < 0.01). Parent-reported circumstances associated with disagreement with the "good death" question included cure-oriented goals-of-care (OR 16.6, 95% CI 3.0, 87.8, p < 0.001), lack of advance care planning (ACP) (OR 12.4 95% CI 2.1, 65.3 p < 0.002), surprise regarding timing of death (OR 11.7, 95% CI 2.6, 53.4 p < 0.002), and experience of pain (OR 42.1, 95% CI 2.3, 773.7 p < 0.02). Despite high medical intensity, many bereaved parents of children with cardiac disease agree a "good death" was experienced. A "good death" was associated with greater preparedness, ACP, non-cure-oriented goals-of-care, pain control, and CPR avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M Moynihan
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, MS BCH3215, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sonja I Ziniel
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Emily Johnston
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Emily Morell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth Pituch
- Department of Pediatrics, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Elizabeth D Blume
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, MS BCH3215, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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27
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Ananth P, Mun S, Reffat N, Kang SJ, Pitafi S, Ma X, Gross CP, Wolfe J. Refining Patient-Centered Measures of End-of-Life Care Quality for Children With Cancer. JCO Oncol Pract 2022; 18:e372-e382. [PMID: 34613797 PMCID: PMC8932486 DOI: 10.1200/op.21.00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE There are no existing quality measures (QMs) to optimize end-of-life care for children with cancer. Previously, we developed a set of 26 candidate QMs. Our primary objective in this study was to achieve stakeholder consensus on priority measures. METHODS We conducted an iterative, cross-sectional electronic survey, using a modified Delphi method to build consensus among clinician and family stakeholders. In each of the two rounds of surveys, stakeholders were asked to rate QMs on a 9-point Likert scale, on the basis of perceived importance. Health care professionals were additionally asked to rate measures on perceived feasibility. After each round, we computed median scores on importance and feasibility of measurement, retaining QMs with median importance scores ≥ 8. RESULTS Twenty-five participants completed both rounds of the survey. In round 1, participants were asked to rate 26 QMs; nine QMs, including QMs pertaining to health care use, were removed because of median importance scores < 8. Two new measures were proposed for consideration in round 2, on the basis of participant feedback. Following round 2, 17 QMs were ultimately retained. QMs related to symptom screening and palliative care consultation were rated highly in importance and feasibility. QMs related to communication were rated highly important, yet less feasible. Measuring whether a patient's needs were heard by their health care team was rated among the least feasible. CONCLUSION Childhood cancer stakeholders prioritized QMs pertaining to patient-reported outcomes, deeming measures of health care resource use less important. Future research should seek to develop novel tools for quality assessment to enhance feasibility of implementing priority measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna Ananth
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT,Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT,Prasanna Ananth, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, 330 Cedar St, LMP 2082C, New Haven, CT 06510; e-mail:
| | - Sophia Mun
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT
| | - Noora Reffat
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT
| | - Soo Jung Kang
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT
| | - Sarah Pitafi
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT
| | - Xiaomei Ma
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT,Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Cary P. Gross
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, New Haven, CT,Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Joanne Wolfe
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA,Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Piette V, Deliens L, van der Werff Ten Bosch J, Beernaert K, Cohen J. Face-Validated Quality Indicators for Appropriateness of End-of-Life Care in Children with Serious Illness: A Study Using the RAND/University of California at Los Angeles Appropriateness Method. J Pediatr 2022; 241:141-146.e2. [PMID: 34626669 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.09.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop and face-validate population-level indicators for potential appropriateness of end-of-life care, for children with cancer, neurologic conditions, and genetic/congenital conditions, to be applied to administrative health data containing medication and treatment variables. STUDY DESIGN Modified RAND/University of California at Los Angeles appropriateness method. We identified potential indicators per illness group through systematic literature review, scoping review, and expert interviews. Three unique expert panels, a cancer (n = 19), neurology (n = 21), and genetic/congenital (n = 17) panel, participated in interviews and rated indicators in individual ratings, group discussions, and second individual ratings. Each indicator was rated on a scale from 1 to 9 for suitability. Consensus was calculated with the interpercentile range adjusted for symmetry formula. Indicators with consensus about unsuitability were removed, those with consensus about suitability were retained, and those with lack of consensus deliberated in the group discussion. Experts included pediatricians, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, pharmacologists, care coordinators, general practitioners, social workers from hospitals, care teams, and general practice. RESULTS Literature review and expert interviews yielded 115 potential indicators for cancer, 111 for neurologic conditions, and 99 for genetic/congenital conditions. We combined similar indicators, resulting in respectively 36, 32, and 33 indicators per group. Expert scoring approved 21 indicators for cancer, 24 for neurologic conditions, and 23 for genetic/congenital conditions. CONCLUSIONS Our indicators can be applied to administrative data to evaluate appropriateness of children's end-of-life care. Differences from adults' indicators stress the specificity of children's end-of-life care. Individual care and remaining aspects, such as family support, can be evaluated with complementary tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veerle Piette
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
| | - Luc Deliens
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jutte van der Werff Ten Bosch
- Department of Pediatrics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kim Beernaert
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Joachim Cohen
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Moynihan KM, Lelkes E, Kumar RK, DeCourcey DD. Is this as good as it gets? Implications of an asymptotic mortality decline and approaching the nadir in pediatric intensive care. Eur J Pediatr 2022; 181:479-487. [PMID: 34599379 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04277-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in medicine, some children will always die; a decline in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mortality to zero will never be achieved. The mortality decline is correspondingly asymptotic, yet we remain preoccupied with mortality outcomes. Are we at the nadir, and are we, thus, as good as we can get? And what should we focus to benchmark our units, if not mortality? In the face of changing case-mix and rising complexity, dramatic reductions in PICU mortality have been observed globally. At the same time, survivors have increasing disability, and deaths are often characterized by intensive life-sustaining therapies preceded by prolonged admissions, emphasizing the need to consider alternate outcome measures to evaluate our successes and failures. What are the costs and implications of reaching this nadir in mortality outcomes? We highlight the failings of our fixation with survival and an imperative to consider alternative outcomes in our PICUs, including the costs for both patients that survive and die, their families, healthcare providers, and society including perspectives in low resource settings. We describe the implications for benchmarking, research, and training the next generation of providers.Conlusion: Although survival remains a highly relevant metric, as PICUs continue to strive for clinical excellence, pushing boundaries in research and innovation, with endeavors in safety, quality, and high-reliability systems, we must prioritize outcomes beyond mortality, evaluate "costs" beyond economics, and find novel ways to improve the care we provide to all of our pediatric patients and their families. What is Known: • The fall in PICU mortality is asymptotic, and a decline to zero is not achievable. Approaching the nadir, we challenge readers to consider implications of focusing on medical and technological advances with survival as the sole outcome of interest. What is New: • Our fixation with survival has costs for patients, families, staff, and society. In the changing PICU landscape, we advocate to pivot towards alternate outcome metrics. • By considering the implications for benchmarking, research, and training, we may better care for patients and families, educate trainees, and expand what it means to succeed in the PICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M Moynihan
- Pediatric Intensive Care, Westmead Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Efrat Lelkes
- Department of Pediatrics, Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, CA, San Francisco, USA
| | - Raman Krishna Kumar
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Cochin, Kerala, India
| | - Danielle D DeCourcey
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Medical Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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30
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Uber A, Ebelhar JS, Lanzel AF, Roche A, Vidal-Anaya V, Brock KE. Palliative Care in Pediatric Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Curr Oncol Rep 2022; 24:161-174. [DOI: 10.1007/s11912-021-01174-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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31
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Development of Population-Based Cancer Indicators and a Measurement of Cancer Care Continuum Using a Modified Delphi Method. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194826. [PMID: 34638310 PMCID: PMC8508364 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This study intended to identify the current state of national cancer management and prevention policies and provide a useful framework for policy establishment. The development of population-based cancer indicators project was conducted as part of a Nationwide Population-based Cancer Registration Project and aimed to applying quality of health care system approaches to the cancer care in population-based monitoring system. The literature review and grey literature review were conducted prior to Delphi method. Our findings confirm 26 cancer indicators and classify them into “Primary prevention,” “Secondary prevention,” “Treatment,” “Quality of care,” “Survivor management,” and “End-of-life care.” The Donabedian model used for health services and the Institute of Medicine quality of healthcare domains of six dimensions were applied to the measurement system. The developed cancer indicators and measurements will be able to provide useful information for prioritizing the operational tasks that can be used by health authorities and policymakers from the other countries. Abstract To identify population-based cancer indicators and construct monitoring systems for the entire lifecycle of cancer patients using a modified Delphi method. A modified Delphi method was used to identify the cancer indicators and measurement by scoping review and gray literature. The final list of cancer indicators was developed by consensus of 11 multidisciplinary experts over multiple rounds and rating scored the importance of each indicator on a 10-point scale. Frequency analysis was performed to rate with median scores ≥7 and finalized the list of indicators according to the priority. Initially, 254 indicators were identified, of which 94 were considered important and feasible. After two rounds of rating by the experts and panel discussions, 26 indicators were finalized in six domains: primary prevention (n = 7), secondary prevention (n = 11), treatment (n = 2), quality of life (n = 4), survivor management (n = 1), and end-of-life care (n = 1). The Donabedian model used for examining health services and the Institute of Medicine quality of healthcare domains were applied to the measurement system. Panel experts identified cancer indicators based on priorities with a high level of consensus, providing a scrupulous foundation for community-based monitoring of cancer patients.
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Specialized Pediatric Palliative Care Services in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Centers. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8080615. [PMID: 34438506 PMCID: PMC8393700 DOI: 10.3390/children8080615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is widely used in pediatric patients as a successful curative therapy for life-threatening conditions. The treatment is intensive, with risks of serious complications and lethal outcomes. This study aimed to provide insight into current data on the place and cause of death of transplanted children, the available specialized pediatric palliative care services (SPPCS), and what services HSCT professionals feel the SPPCS team should provide. First, a retrospective database analysis on the place and cause of death of transplanted pediatric HSCT patients was performed. Second, a survey was performed addressing the availability of and views on SPPCS among HSCT professionals. Database analysis included 233 patients of whom the majority died in-hospital: 38% in the pediatric intensive care unit, 20% in HSCT units, 17% in other hospitals, and 14% at home or in a hospice (11% unknown). For the survey, 98 HSCT professionals from 54 centers participated. Nearly all professionals indicated that HSCT patients should have access to SPPCS, especially for pain management, but less than half routinely referred to this service at an early stage. We, therefore, advise HSCT teams to integrate advance care planning for pediatric HSCT patients actively, ideally from diagnosis, to ensure timely SPPCS involvement and maximize end-of-life preparation.
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33
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Umaretiya PJ, Li A, McGovern A, Ma C, Wolfe J, Bona K. Race, ethnicity, and goal-concordance of end-of-life palliative care in pediatric oncology. Cancer 2021; 127:3893-3900. [PMID: 34255377 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial and ethnic minority children with cancer disproportionately receive intensive care at the end of life (EOL). It is not known whether these differences are goal-concordant or disparities. The authors sought to explore patterns of pediatric palliative care (PPC) and health care utilization in pediatric oncology patients receiving subspecialty palliative care at the end-of-life (last 6 months) and to examine goal-concordance of location of death in a subset of these patients. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of pediatric oncology patients receiving subspecialty palliative care at a single large tertiary care center who died between January 2013 and March 2017. RESULTS A total of 115 patients including 71 White, non-Hispanic patients and 44 non-White patients (including 12 Black patients and 21 Hispanic patients) were included in the analytic cohort. There were no significant differences in oncologic diagnosis, cause of death, or health care utilization in the last 6 months of life. White and non-White patients had similar PPC utilization including time from initial consult to death and median number of PPC encounters. Non-White patients were significantly more likely to die in the hospital compared to White patients (68% vs 46%, P = .03). Analysis of a subcohort with documented preferences (n = 45) revealed that 91% of White patients and 93% of non-White patients died in their preferred location of death. CONCLUSIONS Although non-White children with cancer were more likely to die in the hospital, this difference was goal-concordant in our cohort. Subspecialty PPC access may contribute to the achievement of goal-concordant EOL care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja J Umaretiya
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anran Li
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alana McGovern
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Clement Ma
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joanne Wolfe
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kira Bona
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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34
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Bogetz JF, Rosenberg AR. Adults are just big children: What we can learn about quality end-of-life care from pediatrics. Cancer 2021; 127:2393-2396. [PMID: 33784414 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jori F Bogetz
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.,Palliative Care and Resilience Lab, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.,Palliative Care and Resilience Lab, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
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