Saran Yoshida1, Chitose Ogawa2, Ken Shimizu3, Mariko Kobayashi3, Hironobu Inoguchi3, Yoshio Oshima4, Chikako Dotani5, Rika Nakahara3, Masashi Kato6. 1. Graduate School of Education, Tohoku University, 27-1 Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai city, Miyagi, Japan. saran.yoshida.d6@tohoku.ac.jp. 2. Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. 3. Department of Psycho-oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Division of Psycho-oncology, The Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan. 5. Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. 6. Center for Cancer Control and Information Services, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: We explored pediatricians' practices and attitudes concerning end-of-life discussions (EOLds) with pediatric patients with cancer, and identified the determinants of pediatricians' positive attitude toward having EOLds with pediatric patients. METHODS: A multicenter questionnaire survey was conducted with 127 pediatricians specializing in the treatment of pediatric cancer. RESULTS: Forty-two percent of participants reported that EOLds should be held with the young group of children (6-9 years old), 68% with the middle group (10-15 years old), and 93% with the old group (16-18 years old). Meanwhile, 6, 20, and 35% of participants answered that they "always" or "usually" discussed the incurability of the disease with the young, middle, and old groups, respectively; for the patient's imminent death, the rates were 2, 11, and 24%. Pediatricians' attitude that they "should have" EOLds with the young group was predicted by more clinical experience (odds ratio [OR] 1.077; p = 0.007), more confidence in addressing children's anxiety after EOLd (OR 1.756; p = 0.050), weaker belief in the demand for EOLd (OR 0.456; p = 0.015), weaker belief in the necessity of the EOLd for children to enjoy their time until death (OR, 0.506; p = 0.021), and weaker belief in the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the parents (OR 0.381; p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: While pediatricians nearly reached consensus on EOLds for the old group, EOLds with the young group remain a controversial subject. While pediatricians who supported EOLds believed in their effectiveness or necessity, those who were against EOLds tended to consider the benefits of not engaging in them.
PURPOSE: We explored pediatricians' practices and attitudes concerning end-of-life discussions (EOLds) with pediatric patients with cancer, and identified the determinants of pediatricians' positive attitude toward having EOLds with pediatric patients. METHODS: A multicenter questionnaire survey was conducted with 127 pediatricians specializing in the treatment of pediatric cancer. RESULTS: Forty-two percent of participants reported that EOLds should be held with the young group of children (6-9 years old), 68% with the middle group (10-15 years old), and 93% with the old group (16-18 years old). Meanwhile, 6, 20, and 35% of participants answered that they "always" or "usually" discussed the incurability of the disease with the young, middle, and old groups, respectively; for the patient's imminent death, the rates were 2, 11, and 24%. Pediatricians' attitude that they "should have" EOLds with the young group was predicted by more clinical experience (odds ratio [OR] 1.077; p = 0.007), more confidence in addressing children's anxiety after EOLd (OR 1.756; p = 0.050), weaker belief in the demand for EOLd (OR 0.456; p = 0.015), weaker belief in the necessity of the EOLd for children to enjoy their time until death (OR, 0.506; p = 0.021), and weaker belief in the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the parents (OR 0.381; p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: While pediatricians nearly reached consensus on EOLds for the old group, EOLds with the young group remain a controversial subject. While pediatricians who supported EOLds believed in their effectiveness or necessity, those who were against EOLds tended to consider the benefits of not engaging in them.
Entities:
Keywords:
Attitude; Communication; End-of-life discussion; Palliative care
Authors: Betty Davies; Sally A Sehring; J Colin Partridge; Bruce A Cooper; Anne Hughes; Julie C Philp; Aara Amidi-Nouri; Robin F Kramer Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2008-02 Impact factor: 7.124
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