Beyond End-of-Life: Integrating Pediatric Palliative Care into Oncology Teams to Improve Holistic Outcomes
Introduction: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is often misunderstood as limited to end-of-life care.However, its integration into oncology teams enhances quality of care throughout the illness trajectory.This project advocates for PPC specialists as part of oncology teams, emphasizing their role in symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and family-centered care at any disease stage.Methodology: A palliative care service, led by a pediatric palliative care specialist, was integrated into the oncology team in November 2024.A service log documented consultations, interventions, and outcomes.Data was updated regularly and supervised by the unit head.Interventions included symptom management, counseling, goal-setting, and spiritual support.Institutional impacts, such as reduced healthcare burden and improved decision-making, were recorded.Results: Over 5 weeks, 32 patient interactions were documented.
Authors
- Nisreen Khalifa
- Qutaibah Alotaibi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0240-2076)
Publication Details
- Journal
- OncoDaily Medical Journal
- Published
- 2025-01-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.69690/odmj-018-0425-1721
- Primary Topic
- Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00