Pediatric palliative care. State of the art.
Advances in medicine have significantly reduced child mortality worldwide; however those caring for children with life-threatening medical conditions are usually committed to employing curative and life-prolonging treatments until death is at hand. This type of intensive care and attention can expose children and their families to unnecessary suffering, particularly if inadequate attention is paid to the children's physical and emotional distress. This review presents healthcare providers with the basic concepts of pediatric palliative care (PPC) available to assist them in the care of the child with life-threatening medical conditions. It defines PPC and the principles guiding it; it reviews the reasons behind PPC emphasizing developmental and epidemiological aspects of childhood death; it discusses the needs of children with life-threatening conditions and the needs of their families; and it examines PPC services available, and the obstacles and challenges faced in providing PPC.
Abu-Saad Huijer
Huda
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Faculty of Medicine, School of Nursing, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. hh35@aub.edu.lb
D001293:Attitude to Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003142:Communication; D003906:Developing Countries; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007861:Lebanon; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012803:Sick Role; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*