1. COVID-19: Impact on Pediatric Palliative Care
- Author
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Hannah May Scott, Lucy Coombes, Debbie Braybrook, Anna Roach, Daney Harðardóttir, Katherine Bristowe, Clare Ellis-Smith, Irene Higginson, Wei Gao, Myra Bluebond-Langner, Bobbie Farsides, Fliss EM Murtagh, Lorna K Fraser, and Richard Harding
- Subjects
palliative care ,Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine ,Adolescent ,Communicable Disease Control ,Palliative Care ,Humans ,COVID-19 ,Family ,Neurology (clinical) ,Child ,Pandemics ,Pediatrics ,General Nursing - Abstract
Context: Children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families are potentially vulnerable during COVID-19 lockdowns due to pre-existing high clinical support needs and social participation limitations. Objectives: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on this population. Methods: Sub-analysis of an emergent COVID-19 related theme from a larger semi-structured interview study investigating priority pediatric palliative care outcomes. One hundred and six United Kingdom-wide purposively-sampled Children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, parent/carers, siblings, health professionals, and commissioners. Results: COVID-19 was raised by participants in 12/44 interviews conducted after the United Kingdom's first confirmed COVID-19 case. Key themes included loss of vital social support, disruption to services important to families, and additional psychological distress. Conclusion: Continued delivery of child- and family-centered palliative care requires innovative assessment and delivery of psycho-social support. Disruptions within treatment and care providers may compound support needs, requiring cordination for families facing multiagency delays.
- Published
- 2022
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