COVID-19: Impact on Pediatric Palliative Care

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

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
62 Downloads (Pure)

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e1-e5
JournalJournal of pain and symptom management
Volume64
Issue number1
Early online date25 Feb 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2022

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • palliative care
  • Pediatrics

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