The Seattle Pediatric Palliative Care Project: Effects on Family Satisfaction and Health-Related Quality of Life

Abstract

Pediatric palliative care services that focus on effective communication, decision support, and co-case management with insurers can improve aspects of quality of life and family satisfaction.

Effect of pediatric palliative care programs on health care resource utilization and costs among children with life-threatening conditions: a systematic review of comparative studies

“…Studies were eligible if they included a comprehensive PPCP or its components (e.g., palliative care consultation, respite care, end-of-life care or planning, hospice and community-based palliative care) and they exclusively included children with life-threatening conditions who were 22 years of age or younger. Although there is no consistency to the upper age limit in this population, 1,5 programs can support transition to adult palliative care services up to the age of 22 (e.g., the Seattle Pediatric Palliative Care Project 6 ).…”

Interdisciplinary palliative care teams : insights and experiences of chaplain interns and social work interns.

“…Communication within the pediatric palliative care context requires contact among many sources (e.g., insurance providers, medical professionals, psychosocial clinicians, and spiritual experts), which can be challenging. However, results from the study suggest patient quality of life and family satisfaction for children with life-threatening illness can be improved with integrated pediatric palliative care (Hays et al, 2006).…”

“…In an empirical study of pediatric palliative care, Hays et al (2006) found several care processes that blended curative and comfort care to improve parent perceptions and parent satisfaction of their child's quality of life. A key factor is effective communication between the parents and providers that support patient preferences.…”

“…Daly, Douglas, Gunzler, and Lipson (2013) found individually tailored support services (i.e., symptom management, education, psychosocial and spiritual supports, and advance care planning) provided by an interdisciplinary palliative care team were associated with improved health-related quality of life in some patients. A quantitative study of pediatric palliative care provided by interdisciplinary team from Hays et al (2006) found several processes to be essential for end-of-life care. These were a) patient and family preferences should be implemented in a dynamic plan of care, b) communication should be multidirectional with all clinicians and providers, and c) early involvement of insurance providers improves aspects of quality of life and family satisfaction (Hays et al, 2006).…”

“…A quantitative study of pediatric palliative care provided by interdisciplinary team from Hays et al (2006) found several processes to be essential for end-of-life care. These were a) patient and family preferences should be implemented in a dynamic plan of care, b) communication should be multidirectional with all clinicians and providers, and c) early involvement of insurance providers improves aspects of quality of life and family satisfaction (Hays et al, 2006). Systematic reviews and empirical evidence suggest interdisciplinary palliative care teams improve the patient's quality of life by reducing pain, managing symptoms and improve patient and family satisfaction of care.…”