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COVID-19: Impact on Pediatric Palliative Care

Authors :: 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
Richard Harding
Source :: Scott, H M, Coombes, L, Braybrook, D, Roach, A, Harðardóttir, D, Bristowe, K, Ellis-Smith, C, Higginson, I, Gao, W, Bluebond-Langner, M, Farsides, B, Murtagh, F EM, Fraser, L K & Harding, R 2022, ' COVID-19 : Impact on Pediatric Palliative Care ', Journal of pain and symptom management, vol. 64, no. 1, pp. e1-e5 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.02.330
Publication Year :: 2022
Publisher :: Elsevier BV, 2022.
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.