TY - JOUR
T1 - Palliative care services in paediatric oncology centres across Europe
T2 - A cross-sectional survey
AU - Pedraza, Eddy Carolina
AU - Raguindin, Peter Francis
AU - Hendriks, Manya Jerina
AU - Vokinger, Anna Katharina
AU - De Clercq, Eva
AU - Rüesch, Katja
AU - Hjorth, Lars
AU - von Bueren, André Oscar
AU - Tinner, Eva Maria
AU - Bergstraesser, Eva
AU - Wiener, Lori
AU - Michel, Gisela
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Background: Palliative care (PC) is an integral part of cancer treatment. However, data on service availability is limited in childhood cancers. Aim: To describe the availability of PC services in paediatric oncology centres across Europe, and to identify barriers and facilitators for implementing and providing paediatric palliative care (PPC). Methods: Paediatric oncology centres across Europe were invited to complete an online questionnaire. Results: A total of 158 paediatric oncology centres from 27 European countries participated. More than half of the centres (n = 102, 64.6 %) reported offering specialised PPC (defined as 24/7 coverage services with a specialised physician and a multidisciplinary team). Most centres included a multidisciplinary care team (n = 123, 80.9 %) and PC at home (n = 105, 69.1 %). In 38.7 % centres, service capacity was reported to be lower than demand. In most centres, PC consultation was initiated for a refractory neoplasm (n = 126, 81.2 %). Few centres (n = 11, 7.1 %) offered PC consultation at the time of a new cancer diagnosis. Eighty-two centres (52.6 %) reported having bereavement services. Negative parental perception (n = 99, 64.7 %) and late referrals (n = 91, 59.5 %) were major barriers to implementation perceived by health care providers. Conclusion: Our results suggest that specialised PPC is available in more than half of paediatric oncology settings across Europe. Although half have had PPC available for > 10 years, many cannot fulfil the demand for service. Barriers to implementation (i.e., parental education, staff training) should be addressed, with resources and services further expanded to cover the demand for PPC, including bereavement care.
AB - Background: Palliative care (PC) is an integral part of cancer treatment. However, data on service availability is limited in childhood cancers. Aim: To describe the availability of PC services in paediatric oncology centres across Europe, and to identify barriers and facilitators for implementing and providing paediatric palliative care (PPC). Methods: Paediatric oncology centres across Europe were invited to complete an online questionnaire. Results: A total of 158 paediatric oncology centres from 27 European countries participated. More than half of the centres (n = 102, 64.6 %) reported offering specialised PPC (defined as 24/7 coverage services with a specialised physician and a multidisciplinary team). Most centres included a multidisciplinary care team (n = 123, 80.9 %) and PC at home (n = 105, 69.1 %). In 38.7 % centres, service capacity was reported to be lower than demand. In most centres, PC consultation was initiated for a refractory neoplasm (n = 126, 81.2 %). Few centres (n = 11, 7.1 %) offered PC consultation at the time of a new cancer diagnosis. Eighty-two centres (52.6 %) reported having bereavement services. Negative parental perception (n = 99, 64.7 %) and late referrals (n = 91, 59.5 %) were major barriers to implementation perceived by health care providers. Conclusion: Our results suggest that specialised PPC is available in more than half of paediatric oncology settings across Europe. Although half have had PPC available for > 10 years, many cannot fulfil the demand for service. Barriers to implementation (i.e., parental education, staff training) should be addressed, with resources and services further expanded to cover the demand for PPC, including bereavement care.
KW - Bereavement
KW - Childhood cancer
KW - Health services
KW - Integrative Oncology
KW - Paediatrics
KW - Palliative care
KW - Palliative supportive care
KW - Patient care
KW - Services
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejcped.2023.100125
DO - 10.1016/j.ejcped.2023.100125
M3 - Article
C2 - 38223237
AN - SCOPUS:85190403949
SN - 2772-610X
VL - 2
JO - EJC Paediatric Oncology
JF - EJC Paediatric Oncology
M1 - 100125
ER -