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de Wylson Fernandes Gomes de Mattos D, Thuler LC, da Silva Lima FF, de Camargo B, Ferman S. The do-not-resuscitate-like (DNRL) order, a medical directive for limiting life-sustaining treatment in the end-of-life care of children with cancer: experience of major cancer center in Brazil. Support Care Cancer 2022; 30:4283-4289. [PMID: 35088149 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06717-5] [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] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In the last few decades, interest in palliative care and advance care planning has grown in Brazil and worldwide. Empirical studies are needed to reduce therapeutic obstinacy and medical futility in the end-of-life care of children with incurable cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of do-not-resuscitate-like (DNRL) orders on the quality of end-of-life care of children with incurable solid tumors at a cancer center in Brazil. METHODS A retrospective observational cohort study of 181 pediatric patients with solid tumors followed at the Pediatric Oncology Department of the Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who died due to disease progression from 2009 to 2013. Medical records were reviewed for indicators of quality of end-of-life care, including overtreatment, care planning, and care at death, in addition to documentation of the diagnosis of life-limiting illness and the presence of a DNRL order. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between demographics, disease, treatment, and indicators of end-of-life care with a DNRL order. RESULTS A documented DNRL order was associated with lower odds of dying in the intensive care unit or emergency room (80%), dying within 30 days of endotracheal tube placement (80%), or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) administration at the time of death (96%). CONCLUSION Placement of DNRL orders early in the disease process is critical in reducing futile treatment in pediatric patients with incurable cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luiz Claudio Thuler
- Division of Clinical Research and Technological Development, Brazilian National Cancer Institute - INCA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Ferreira da Silva Lima
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Brazilian National Cancer Institute - INCA, Praça Cruz Vermelha 23, 5º andar, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP: 20230-130, Brazil
| | - Beatriz de Camargo
- Division of Clinical Research and Technological Development, Brazilian National Cancer Institute - INCA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sima Ferman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Brazilian National Cancer Institute - INCA, Praça Cruz Vermelha 23, 5º andar, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP: 20230-130, Brazil.
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Blais S, Cohen-Gogo S, Gouache E, Guerrini-Rousseau L, Brethon B, Rahal I, Petit A, Raimondo G, Pellegrino B, Orbach D. End-of-life care in children and adolescents with cancer: perspectives from a French pediatric oncology care network. TUMORI JOURNAL 2021; 108:223-229. [PMID: 33940999 DOI: 10.1177/03008916211013384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In developed countries, cancer remains the leading cause of pediatric death from illness after the neonatal period. OBJECTIVE To describe the end-of-life care characteristics of children and adolescents with solid tumors (ST) or hematologic malignancies (HM) who died from tumor progression in the Île-de-France area. METHODS This is a regional, multicentric, retrospective review of medical files of all children and adolescents with cancer who died over a 1-year period. Extensive data from the last 3 months of life were collected. RESULTS A total of 99 eligible patients died at a median age of 9.8 years (range, 0.3-24 years). The most frequent terminal symptoms were pain (n = 86), fatigue (n = 84), dyspnea (n = 49), and anorexia (n = 41). Median number of medications per patient was 8 (range, 3-18). Patients required administration of opioids (n = 91), oxygen (n = 36), and/or sedation (n = 61). Decision for palliative care was present in all medical records and do-not-resuscitate orders in 90/99 cases. Symptom prevalence was comparable between children and adolescents with ST and HM. A wish regarding the place of death had been expressed for 64 patients and could be respected in 42 cases. Death occurred in hospital for 75 patients. CONCLUSIONS This study represents a large and informative cohort illustrating current pediatric palliative care approaches in pediatric oncology. End-of-life remains an active period of care requiring coordination of multiple care teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Blais
- Pediatric Department, Poissy Hospital, Poissy, France
| | - Sarah Cohen-Gogo
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Elodie Gouache
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Trousseau Hospital (AP-HP), Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Lea Guerrini-Rousseau
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Center, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Paris-Saclay University, Villejuif, France
| | - Benoit Brethon
- Pediatric Hematology Department, Robert Debré Hospital (AP-HP), Paris, France.,RIFHOP, Île-de-France Regional Network of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Paris, France
| | - Ilhem Rahal
- Adolescents and Young Adults Hematology Department, Saint-Louis Hospital (AP-HP), Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Petit
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Trousseau Hospital (AP-HP), Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Graziella Raimondo
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hôpital d'Enfants Margency, Margency, France.,PALIPED, Regional Pediatric Palliative Care Resource Team of Île-de-France, Paris, France
| | - Beatrice Pellegrino
- Pediatric Department, Poissy Hospital, Poissy, France.,RIFHOP, Île-de-France Regional Network of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Paris, France.,PALIPED, Regional Pediatric Palliative Care Resource Team of Île-de-France, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Orbach
- RIFHOP, Île-de-France Regional Network of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Paris, France.,SIREDO Oncology Center (Care, Innovation and Research for Children and AYA with Cancer), PSL Research University, Institut Curie, Paris, France
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Prozora S, Shabanova V, Ananth P, Pashankar F, Kupfer GM, Massaro SA, Davidoff AJ. Patterns of medication use at end of life by pediatric inpatients with cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e28837. [PMID: 33306281 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe medication utilization patterns by pediatric inpatients with cancer during their last week of life. METHODS This retrospective study used data from the Vizient Clinical Database/Resource Manager, a national compilation of clinical and resource use data from over 100 academic medical centers and affiliates. Patients (0-21 years) with malignancy who died during hospitalization (2010-2017) were included (N = 1659). Medications were categorized as opioid, benzodiazepine, gastrointestinal related, chemotherapy, anti-infectives, or vasopressors. Exposure to each group was ascertained for all patients at 1 week and 1 day prior to death. Factors associated with exposure were examined using generalized estimating equations, and summarized using adjusted odds ratios (aORs). RESULTS Over the last week of life, there was increased use of opioids (76% to 82%, aOR = 1.55, P < .001) and benzodiazepines (53% to 66%, aOR = 1.36, P = .02), while gastrointestinal-related medication use decreased (92% to 89%, aOR = 0.69, P = .001). Patients had decreased exposure to chemotherapy (10% to 5%, aOR = 0.46, P < .001) and anti-infectives (82% to 73%, aOR = 0.41, P = .002). Vasopressor use increased as death approached (15% to 28%, aOR = 1.67, P = .04). Factors significantly associated with exposure varied with medication category, and included age, race, length of stay, malignancy type, death in the intensive care unit, history of hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and do-not-resuscitate status. CONCLUSION During the week preceding death, administration of symptom management medications increased for children with cancer, but use was not universal. Potentially life-sustaining medications were often continued. Variability in utilization suggests differences in provider/family decision making that warrant further study to develop an evidence-based approach to end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Prozora
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Veronika Shabanova
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Prasanna Ananth
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Farzana Pashankar
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Gary M Kupfer
- Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| | | | - Amy J Davidoff
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
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Moaed B, Mordechai O, Weyl Ben-Arush M, Tamir S, Ofir R, Postovsky S. Factors Influencing Do-Not-Resuscitate Status in Children During Last Month of Life: Single Institution Experience. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2019; 41:e201-e205. [PMID: 30499908 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000001360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is currently expected that about 20% of children with cancer will ultimately die. Writing advanced life directives sufficiently long before the actual death of a child ensues allows both parents and medical staff to develop optimal treatment plans in the best interests of the child. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of the study was to evaluate factors that may influence the process of decision-making regarding Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) status. METHODS Retrospective single institution study. RESULTS Totally, 79 patients died between September 01, 2011 and August 31, 2017. Median age of the children was 10.5 years (range, 1 to 24 y). Forty-five were males. There were 37 Muslims, 27 Jews, 9 Druze, and 6 Christians. Twenty-one patients had sarcomas, 20 had CNS tumors, 10 had neuroblastoma, 17 had leukemias/lymphomas, 11 had carcinomas, and other rare tumors as well as nonmalignant diseases. No statistically significant association between all evaluated factors and DNR order status was found. CONCLUSIONS It is possible that, other than demographic, clinical-associated, or therapy-associated factors play an important role in the process of decision-making regarding DNR. We feel that sincere communication between parents, their child (when appropriate) and medical and psychosocial staff may have a more crucial role when such decisions have to be made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Moaed
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
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Nam EJ, Lee SN, Lee R. Comparison of Life-Sustaining Treatment in Terminal Cancer Patients between a Cancer and Hospice Unit after Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders. ASIAN ONCOLOGY NURSING 2018. [DOI: 10.5388/aon.2018.18.4.198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eun Jeong Nam
- Department of Hospice Palliative Service, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
| | - Se-Na Lee
- Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
| | - Ran Lee
- Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
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Osenga K, Postier A, Dreyfus J, Foster L, Teeple W, Friedrichsdorf SJ. A Comparison of Circumstances at the End of Life in a Hospital Setting for Children With Palliative Care Involvement Versus Those Without. J Pain Symptom Manage 2016; 52:673-680. [PMID: 27693899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Specialized pediatric palliative care (PPC) services have become more common in urban pediatric hospital settings, although little is known about palliative care specialist involvement. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to compare circumstances before death in children who spent their last days of life in an inpatient pediatric hospital setting, with or without PPC provider involvement during their inpatient stay. METHODS Retrospective chart review of medical records of children for the last inpatient stay that resulted in death at a children's hospital setting between January 2012 through June 2013. The setting was a free-standing, 385-bed tertiary care children's hospital. RESULTS Charts were reviewed for 114 children between 0 and 18 years of age, who were hospitalized for at least 24 hours before their death. Half of the children who died as inpatients were infants (median age five weeks). Children who received an inpatient PPC consult (25% of the sample) experienced 1) a higher rate of pain assessments, 2) better documentation around specific actions to manage pain, 3) greater odds of receiving integrative medicine services, 4) fewer diagnostic/monitoring procedures (e.g., blood gases, blood draws, placements of intravenous lines) in the last 48 hours of life, and 5) nearly eight times greater odds of having a do-not-resuscitate order in place at the time of death. CONCLUSION The integration of a PPC team was associated with fewer diagnostic/monitoring procedures and improved pain management documentation in this study of 114 children who died as inpatients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaci Osenga
- Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
| | - Andrea Postier
- Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Laurie Foster
- Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Wrenda Teeple
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Stefan J Friedrichsdorf
- Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Brock KE, Steineck A, Twist CJ. Trends in End-of-Life Care in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplant Patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2016; 63:516-22. [PMID: 26513237 PMCID: PMC5106189 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decisions about end-of-life care may be influenced by cultural and disease-specific features. We evaluated associations of demographic variables (race, ethnicity, language, religion, and diagnosis) with end-of-life characteristics (Phase I enrollment, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, hospice utilization, location of death), and trends in palliative care services delivered to pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplant (SCT) patients. PROCEDURE In this single-center retrospective cohort study, inclusion criteria were as follows: patients aged 0-35 who died between January 1, 2002 and March 1, 2014, and had been cared for in the pediatric hematology, oncology, and SCT divisions. The era of 2002-2014 was divided into quartiles to assess trends over time. RESULTS Of the 445 included patients, 64% of patients had relapsed disease, 45% were enrolled in hospice, and 16% had received palliative care consultation. Patients with brain or solid tumors enrolled in hospice (P < 0.0001) and died at home more frequently than patients with leukemia/lymphoma (P < 0.0001). Patients who received Phase I therapy or identified as Christian/Catholic religion enrolled in hospice more frequently (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.03, respectively). When patient deaths were analyzed over quartiles, the frequency of DNR orders (P = 0.02) and palliative care consultation (P = 0.04) increased over time. Hospice enrollment, location of death, and Phase I trial enrollment did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS Despite increases in palliative care consultation and DNR orders over time, utilization remains suboptimal. No increase in hospice enrollment or shift in death location was observed. These data will help target future initiatives to achieve earlier discussions of goals of care and improved palliative care for all patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine E. Brock
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Angela Steineck
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Clare J. Twist
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
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8
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Glenn DG. Preventing Safety Hazards Associated With Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2015; 19:667-9. [PMID: 26583631 DOI: 10.1188/15.cjon.667-669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Do-not-resuscitate orders can promote patients' dignity near the end of life, but they also can carry safety hazards associated with miscommunication and inappropriate withdrawal of certain kinds of care. Oncology nurses have a responsibility to identify these potential hazards and to intervene as necessary.
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Two distinct Do-Not-Resuscitate protocols leaving less to the imagination: an observational study using propensity score matching. BMC Med 2014; 12:146. [PMID: 25175307 PMCID: PMC4156651 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-014-0146-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) patients tend to receive less medical care after the order is written. To provide a clearer approach, the Ohio Department of Health adopted the Do-Not-Resuscitate law in 1998, indicating two distinct protocols of DNR orders that allow DNR patients to choose the medical care: DNR Comfort Care (DNRCC), implying DNRCC patients receive only comfort care after the order is written; and DNR Comfort Care-Arrest (DNRCC-Arrest), implying that DNRCC-Arrest patients are eligible to receive aggressive interventions until cardiac or respiratory arrest. The aim of this study was to examine the medical care provided to patients with these two distinct protocols of DNR orders. METHODS Data were collected from August 2002 to December 2005 at a medical intensive care unit in a university-affiliated teaching hospital. In total, 188 DNRCC-Arrest patients, 88 DNRCC patients, and 2,051 non-DNR patients were included. Propensity score matching using multivariate logistic regression was used to balance the confounding variables between the 188 DNRCC-Arrest and 2,051 non-DNR patients, and between the 88 DNRCC and 2,051 non-DNR patients. The daily cost of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, the daily cost of hospital stay, the daily discretionary cost of ICU stay, six aggressive interventions, and three comfort care measures were used to indicate the medical care patients received. The association of each continuous variable and categorical variable with having a DNR order written was analyzed using Student's t-test and the χ2 test, respectively. The six aggressive interventions and three comfort care measures performed before and after the order was initiated were compared using McNemar's test. RESULTS DNRCC patients received significantly fewer aggressive interventions and more comfort care after the order was initiated. By contrast, for DNRCC-Arrest patients, the six aggressive interventions provided were not significantly decreased, but the three comfort care measures were significantly increased after the order was initiated. In addition, the three medical costs were not significantly different between DNRCC and non-DNR patients, or between DNRCC-Arrest and non-DNR patients. CONCLUSIONS When medical care provided to DNR patients is clearly indicated, healthcare professionals will provide the medical care determined by patient/surrogate decision-makers and healthcare professionals, rather than blindly decreasing medical care.
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Azad AA, Siow SF, Tafreshi A, Moran J, Franco M. Discharge Patterns, Survival Outcomes, and Changes in Clinical Management of Hospitalized Adult Patients with Cancer with a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order. J Palliat Med 2014; 17:776-81. [DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2013.0554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Arun A. Azad
- Joint Austin-Ludwig Oncology Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sue-Faye Siow
- Joint Austin-Ludwig Oncology Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ali Tafreshi
- Joint Austin-Ludwig Oncology Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Juli Moran
- Palliative Care Services, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael Franco
- Monash Cancer Centre, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Hileli I, Weyl Ben Arush M, Hakim F, Postovsky S. Association between religious and socio-economic background of parents of children with solid tumors and DNR orders. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014; 61:265-8. [PMID: 23940107 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.24712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The influence of socio-economic and religious background on decisions made by parents of children with incurable cancer regarding DNR orders is not fully understood. PROCEDURE A retrospective analysis of medical charts of patients who died between January 2000 and January 2011 was performed. The following data were sought: written evidence of DNR discussion with parents, religious background, educational level, monthly income. RESULTS There was evidence of a discussion on DNR in 73/90 charts. DNR consent was obtained in 14/17 (82.4%) cases where at least one parent had >15 years of education versus in only 24/45 (53.3%) cases where both parents had ≤15 years education as determined by univariate analysis (P = 0.03). DNR consent was also more likely to be obtained among parents of children with income >10,000 NIS (24/30, 80.0% vs. 20/38, 52.6%, P = 0.013). Parents of Jewish (22/30, 73.3%), Islamic (16/26, 61.5%), and Christian (8/9, 88.9%) background were equally likely to provide DNR consent. However, Druze families were less likely to do so (2/8, 25.0%, P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS The process of decision-making to a DNR request was associated with parents' educational level and monthly family income, and not by religious background, with the exception of Druze families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Hileli
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Meyer Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Youngblut JM, Brooten D. Perinatal and pediatric issues in palliative and end-of-life care from the 2011 Summit on the Science of Compassion. Nurs Outlook 2012; 60:343-50. [PMID: 23036690 PMCID: PMC3514406 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2012.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2012] [Revised: 08/01/2012] [Accepted: 08/16/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
More than 25,000 infants and children die in US hospitals annually; 86% occur in the NICU or PICU. Parents see the child's pain and suffering and, near the point of death, must decide whether to resuscitate, limit medical treatment, and/or withdraw life support. Immediately after the death, parents must decide whether to see and/or hold the infant/child, donate organs, agree to an autopsy, make funeral arrangements, and somehow maintain functioning. Few children and their families receive pediatric palliative care services, especially those from minority groups. Barriers to these programs include lack of services, difficulty identifying the dying point, discomfort in withholding or withdrawing treatments, communication problems, conflicts in care among providers and between parents and providers, and differences in cultural beliefs about end-of-life care. The 2011 NIH Summit on the Science of Compassion provided recommendations in family involvement, end-of-life care, communication, health care delivery, and transdisciplinary participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonne M Youngblut
- College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
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Kumar SP. Reporting of pediatric palliative care: a systematic review and quantitative analysis of research publications in palliative care journals. Indian J Palliat Care 2012; 17:202-9. [PMID: 22347775 PMCID: PMC3276817 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1075.92337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Pediatric palliative care clinical practice depends upon an evidence-based decision-making process which in turn is based upon current research evidence. AIMS This study aimed to perform a quantitative analysis of research publications in palliative care journals for reporting characteristics of articles on pediatric palliative care. SETTINGS AND DESIGN This was a systematic review of palliative care journals. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve palliative care journals were searched for articles with "paediatric" or "children" in titles of the articles published from 2006 to 2010. The reporting rates of all journals were compared. The selected articles were categorized into practice, education, research, and administration, and subsequently grouped into original and review articles. The original articles were subgrouped into qualitative and quantitative studies, and the review articles were grouped into narrative and systematic reviews. Each subgroup of original articles' category was further classified according to study designs. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Descriptive analysis using frequencies and percentiles was done using SPSS for Windows, version 11.5. RESULTS The overall reporting rate among all journals was 2.66% (97/3634), and Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing (JHPN) had the highest reporting rate of 12.5% (1/8), followed by Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care (JSWELPC) with a rate of 7.5% (5/66), and Journal of Palliative Care (JPC) with a rate of 5.33% (11/206). CONCLUSIONS The overall reporting rate for pediatric palliative care articles in palliative care journals was very low and there were no randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews found. The study findings indicate a lack of adequate evidence base for pediatric palliative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senthil P Kumar
- Department of Physiotherapy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
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Durall A, Zurakowski D, Wolfe J. Barriers to conducting advance care discussions for children with life-threatening conditions. Pediatrics 2012; 129:e975-82. [PMID: 22392177 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Advance care discussions (ACD) occur infrequently or are initiated late in the course of illness. Although data exist regarding barriers to ACD among the care of adult patients, few pediatric data exist. The goal of this study was to identify barriers to conducting ACD for children with life-threatening conditions. METHODS Physicians and nurses from practice settings where advance care planning typically takes place were surveyed to collect data regarding their attitudes and behaviors regarding ACD. RESULTS A total of 266 providers responded to the survey: 107 physicians and 159 nurses (54% response rate). The top 3 barriers were: unrealistic parent expectations, differences between clinician and patient/parent understanding of prognosis, and lack of parent readiness to have the discussion. Nurses identified lack of importance to clinicians (P = .006) and ethical considerations (P < .001) as impediments more often than physicians. Conversely, physicians believed that not knowing the right thing to say (P = .006) was more often a barrier. There are also perceived differences among specialties. Cardiac ICU providers were more likely to report unrealistic clinician expectations (P < .001) and differences between clinician and patient/parent understanding of prognosis (P = .014) as common barriers to conducting ACD. Finally, 71% of all clinicians believed that ACD happen too late in the patient's clinical course. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians perceive parent prognostic understanding and attitudes as the most common barriers to conducting ACD. Educational interventions aimed at improving clinician knowledge, attitudes, and skills in addressing these barriers may help health care providers overcome perceived barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Durall
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
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Docherty SL, Thaxton C, Allison C, Barfield RC, Tamburro RF. The nursing dimension of providing palliative care to children and adolescents with cancer. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-PEDIATRICS 2012; 6:75-88. [PMID: 23641169 PMCID: PMC3620813 DOI: 10.4137/cmped.s8208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Palliative care for children and adolescents with cancer includes interventions that focus on the relief of suffering, optimization of function, and improvement of quality of life at any and all stages of disease. This care is most effectively provided by a multidisciplinary team. Nurses perform an integral role on that team by identifying symptoms, providing care coordination, and assuring clear communication. Several basic tenets appear essential to the provision of optimal palliative care. First, palliative care should be administered concurrently with curative therapy beginning at diagnosis and assuming a more significant role at end of life. This treatment approach, recommended by many medical societies, has been associated with numerous benefits including longer survival. Second, realistic, objective goals of care must be developed. A clear understanding of the prognosis by the patient, family, and all members of the medical team is essential to the development of these goals. The pediatric oncology nurse is pivotal in developing these goals and assuring that they are adhered to across all specialties. Third, effective therapies to prevent and relieve the symptoms of suffering must be provided. This can only be accomplished with accurate and repeated assessments. The pediatric oncology nurse is vital in providing these assessments and must possess a working knowledge of the most common symptoms associated with suffering. With a basic understanding of these palliative care principles and competency in the core skills required for this care, the pediatric oncology nurse will optimize quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharron L Docherty
- Duke University, School of Nursing, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Public Health Sciences
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