Palliative care in children with cancer: implications for general practice
Open Access
- 24 November 2016
- journal article
- Published by Royal College of General Practitioners in British Journal of General Practice
- Vol. 66 (653), 599-600
- https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp16x688009
Abstract
Survival rates of childhood cancer have increased over past decades, but around 25% of children diagnosed with cancer eventually die.1 The majority of children with cancer die at home,2 highlighting the role of community healthcare professionals, particularly GPs, in caring for children with advanced cancer. Although GPs are confronted with palliative care for adults on a regular basis, the death of a child with cancer is rare. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined paediatric palliative care as: ‘ the active total care of the child’s body, mind and spirit, and also involves giving support to the family. It begins when illness is diagnosed, and continues regardless of whether or not a child receives treatment directed at the disease. Health providers must evaluate and alleviate a child’s physical, psychological, and social distress. Effective palliative care requires a broad multidisciplinary approach that includes the family and makes use of available community resources; it can be successfully implemented even if resources are limited. It can be provided in tertiary care facilities, in community health centres and even in children’s homes. ’3 A systematic review showed that patients value the involvement of GPs in palliative care for adults: they play a key role in providing continuity of care, they know the family very well, and fulfil a coordinating role in palliative care at home. In general, GPs deliver high-quality palliative care.4 Reported difficulties are about managing the patients’ symptoms, especially those symptoms that are very difficult to treat, or that rarely occur.4, …Keywords
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