Content Analysis of Multifaceted Needs for Improving the Quality of Pediatric Palliative Care Among Parents of Children With Life-threatening Conditions

Abstract

This study aimed to identify parental needs for pediatric palliative care and obtain their opinions on developing pediatric palliative care in South Korea. This qualitative research design used inductive and deductive methods. The data were collected through semistructured interviews. A total of 6 parents actively caring for a child with life-threatening conditions and 7 bereaved parents participated in this study. A total of 707 significant statements, 43 subthemes, and 16 themes according to 6 structured matrices (advance care planning and symptom control, psychological and spiritual care, supporting everyday lives, end-of-life care and bereavement support, delivery model of pediatric palliative care, and unmet needs within current services) on the care and bereavement experiences of parents of children with life-threatening conditions were derived. Palliative care for children is a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate, prevent, and manage multifaceted symptoms and to support children with life-threatening conditions and their families. Our findings suggest that parents of children with life-threatening conditions in South Korea present multidimensional needs across the diagnostic groups and the illness trajectories and inform policy makers and health care professionals to design a pediatric palliative care delivery model. Further studies examining the unmet needs are required to enhance the quality of pediatric palliative care. Copyright © 2022 by The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. All rights reserved.