Expert survey on coverage and characteristics of pediatric palliative care in Europe - a focus on home care

Julia Wager, Larissa Alice Kubek*, Maria Brenner, Sara Calmanti, Carmel Doyle, Malin Lövgren, Ulrika Kreicbergs, Leontien Kremer, Philippe Le Moine, Guillaume Robert, Meggi Schuiling-Otten, Peter Schröder-Bäck, Eduard Verhagen, Boris Zernikow

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: For children with life-limiting conditions home care is a key component of pediatric palliative care. However, poor information is available on service coverage and in particular on country-specific pediatric palliative home care characteristics. The aim of the study was therefore to describe the association between pediatric palliative care coverage and national activities and obtain detailed information on the pediatric palliative home care structure in different European countries.

METHODS: Online survey with in-country experts from N = 33 European countries.

RESULTS: Pediatric palliative home care (65.6%) represented the most pediatric palliative care units (15.6%) and the least common services. National documents constituted the most widespread national pediatric palliative care activity (59.4%) and were associated with available services. Pediatric palliative home care could be mostly accessed as a service free of charge to families (95.2%) from the time of a child's diagnosis (85.7%). In most countries, oncological and non-oncological patients were cared for in pediatric palliative home care. Only a minority of home care teams covered home-ventilated children. Pediatric palliative home care usually comprised medical care (81.0%), care coordination (71.4%), nursing care (75.0%) and social support (57.1%). Most countries had at least two professional groups working in home care teams (81.0%), mostly physicians and nurses. In many countries, pediatric palliative home care was not available in all regions and did not offer a 24 h-outreach service.

CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric palliative care provision in Europe is heterogeneous. Further work on country-specific structures is needed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number185
Number of pages10
JournalBMC Palliative Care
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Oct 2022

Keywords

  • Child
  • Europe
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Home Care Services/statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Palliative Care/statistics & numerical data
  • Pediatrics/statistics & numerical data

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