First name
Cynthia
Middle name
A
Last name
Gerhardt

Title

Emerging Methodologies in Pediatric Palliative Care Research: Six Case Studies.

Year of Publication

2018

Date Published

2018 Feb 26

ISSN Number

2227-9067

Abstract

<p>Given the broad focus of pediatric palliative care (PPC) on the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of children with potentially life-limiting illnesses and their families, PPC research requires creative methodological approaches. This manuscript, written by experienced PPC researchers, describes issues encountered in our own areas of research and the novel methods we have identified to target them. Specifically, we discuss potential approaches to: assessing symptoms among nonverbal children, evaluating medical interventions, identifying and treating problems related to polypharmacy, addressing missing data in longitudinal studies, evaluating longer-term efficacy of PPC interventions, and monitoring for inequities in PPC service delivery.</p>

DOI

10.3390/children5030032

Alternate Title

Children (Basel)

PMID

29495384

Title

Psychological distress in parents of children with advanced cancer.

Year of Publication

2013

Number of Pages

537-43

Date Published

2013 Jun

ISSN Number

2168-6211

Abstract

<p><strong>IMPORTANCE: </strong>Parent psychological distress can impact the well-being of childhood cancer patients and other children in the home. Recognizing and alleviating factors of parent distress may improve overall family survivorship experiences following childhood cancer.</p>

<p><strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong>To describe the prevalence and factors of psychological distress (PD) among parents of children with advanced cancer.</p>

<p><strong>DESIGN: </strong>Cohort study embedded within a randomized clinical trial (Pediatric Quality of Life and Evaluation of Symptoms Technology [PediQUEST] study).</p>

<p><strong>SETTING: </strong>Multicenter study conducted at 3 children's hospitals (Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Seattle Children's Hospital).</p>

<p><strong>PARTICIPANTS: </strong>Parents of children with advanced (progressive, recurrent, or refractory) cancer.</p>

<p><strong>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: </strong>Parental PD, as measured by the Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Eighty-six of 104 parents completed the Survey About Caring for Children With Cancer (83% participation); 81 parents had complete Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale data. More than 50% of parents reported high PD and 16% met criteria for serious PD (compared with US prevalence of 2%-3%). Parent perceptions of prognosis, goals of therapy, child symptoms/suffering, and financial hardship were associated with PD. In multivariate analyses, average parent Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale scores were higher among parents who believed their child was suffering highly and who reported great economic hardship. Conversely, PD was significantly lower among parents whose prognostic understanding was aligned with concrete goals of care.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: </strong>Parenting a child with advanced cancer is strongly associated with high to severe levels of PD. Interventions aimed at aligning prognostic understanding with concrete care goals and easing child suffering and financial hardship may mitigate parental PD.</p>

DOI

10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.628

Alternate Title

JAMA Pediatr

PMID

23545569

WATCH THIS PAGE

Subscription is not available for this page.