title: Barriers to the development of pediatric palliative care in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years the emergence of new types of patient, clinical situations, technological frontiers and "health" objectives have changed considerably the needs of ill children, this also concerns pediatric palliative care (PPC). In Italy, despite the introduction of legislation (Law 38/2010) stipulating the right of children and families to access appropriate services for pain control and pediatric palliative care, the availability of these services is still limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to highlight, through a review of the existing data and published literature, the critical issues that obstacle the planning and development of PPC services in Italy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four main areas identified were: socio-cultural setting; types of patients and nature of diseases requiring PPC; training for PPC providers; regulatory and political issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This type of analysis can provide the rational for advancing proposals and developing supportive, corrective and implementation strategies.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute della Donna e del Bambino, Centro di Riferimento Veneto di Terapia del Dolore e Cure Palliative Pediatriche, Università degli studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benini
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Formazione Maruzza in Cure Palliative Pediatriche "Maruzza Lyceum", Fondazione Maruzza Lefebvre D'Ovidio Onlus, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orzalesi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Neuroscienze, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Santi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute della Donna e del Bambino, Centro di Riferimento Veneto di Terapia del Dolore e Cure Palliative Pediatriche, Università degli studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Congedi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute della Donna e del Bambino, Centro di Riferimento Veneto di Terapia del Dolore e Cure Palliative Pediatriche, Università degli studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lazzarin
authors.affiliation: Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pellegatta
authors.affiliation: Assistenza Domiciliare e Cure Palliative Pediatriche, AAS5 Friuli Occidentale, Pordenone, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Zen
authors.affiliation: Direzione Generale della Programmazione Sanitaria, Ministero della Salute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spizzichino
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Neuroscienze, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alleva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D059408:Pain Management / Q000639:trends; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D000070659:Patient Comfort; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*