Advance care planning and the parental geographical background in pediatric palliative home care: a retrospective chart review

Conclusions: Even this study indicates that the parental geographical background as an important sociocultural aspect might have an impact on ACP decisions for children and adolescents with life-limiting conditions, other factors as the patients ’ underlying disease can be more crucial for decision making in pediatric palliative care. The reason for the differences found might lay in cultural preferences or barriers to appropriate care. The inclusion of sociocultural aspects in decision-making is crucial to guarantee culture-sensitive, pa tient-centered pediatric palliative care.What is Known:• Decision making processes in pediatric palliative care are influenced by various cultural and religious norms.• So far, there is little knowledge about tangible differences with regard to end-of-life care decisions according to the geographical background of parents.What is New:• End-of-life care decisions varied significantly with the parental country of origin.• Other factors as the underlying disease may be more crucial for decision making in pediatric palliative care.
Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research