End-of-life care in a children's hospice program

J Palliat Care. 2005 Spring;21(1):5-11.

Abstract

A project was completed in 1999 to evaluate the Canuck Place children's hospice program. This article reports only on the end-of-life care component. Results are provided from mail-out surveys with families who required end-of-life care and are supplemented by qualitative data which were collected from interviews with individuals prior to the survey. Eighteen families completed face-to-face interviews and another 70 families completed the mail-out questionnaire developed from the initial interviews. A total of 39 parents responded to the survey section about end-of-life care services. Results indicated that parents were reasonably comfortable discussing death with staff; they generally felt well prepared for their child's death because of the staff; the death of another child had a significant effect on families; parents' wishes at the time of their child's death were very supported by staff; and families were well supported by staff at the time of a child's death. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Child
  • Child Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Family / psychology*
  • Hospice Care / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Ontario
  • Professional-Family Relations*
  • Program Evaluation
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Terminal Care*