Dilemmas of telling bad news: Paediatric palliative care providers’ experiences in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The needs of healthcare personnel who provide home-based pediatric palliative care: a mixed method systematic review

“…The included studies originated from Europe (n = 16) [ 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 – 26 , 28 – 33 , 35 – 38 ], North America (n = 2) [ 27 , 34 ], Australia (n = 1) [ 19 ], Africa (n = 1) [ 21 ], and Asia (n = 1) [ 23 ]. Thirteen studies were qualitative and took the form of interview studies [ 19 – 23 , 26 – 29 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 38 ].…”

“…Seven studies were quantitative and presented survey data [ 18 , 24 , 30 – 33 , 36 ], and study had a mixed methods approach [ 25 ]. Physicians (n = 333), including pediatricians [ 22 , 24 , 25 , 30 , 35 , 37 , 38 ], were the largest participant group, followed by nurses (n = 219) [ 18 , 19 , 21 – 23 , 27 – 29 , 34 – 38 ]. Some studies involved other healthcare personnel, such as counsellors, assistant nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians [ 22 , 35 , 37 ], paramedics, psychosocial professionals, and other professionals [ 31 , 35 , 37 , 38 ], and home-based care workers [ 21 ].…”

“…Physicians (n = 333), including pediatricians [ 22 , 24 , 25 , 30 , 35 , 37 , 38 ], were the largest participant group, followed by nurses (n = 219) [ 18 , 19 , 21 – 23 , 27 – 29 , 34 – 38 ]. Some studies involved other healthcare personnel, such as counsellors, assistant nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians [ 22 , 35 , 37 ], paramedics, psychosocial professionals, and other professionals [ 31 , 35 , 37 , 38 ], and home-based care workers [ 21 ]. Two studies presented participants as external stakeholders, in-patient hospital staff, and hospice at home teams [ 20 ] or as allied health clinicians [ 19 ].…”

“…The majority of the included qualitative studies clearly described the collection of the data and analyses and provided representative quotations to justify the findings. In one of the studies [ 20 ], the findings were less obvious because of insufficient quotes, while another study [ 21 ] had insufficient details to determine the method of data collection. These two studies could therefore not be evaluated in relation to coherence between the data sources and interpretation.…”

Advising caregivers

“…In their study of telling bad news, Campbell and Amin [7] point out cultural complexities around the care and counselling of patients with terminal diseases and their families. In their study of telling bad news, Campbell and Amin [7] point out cultural complexities around the care and counselling of patients with terminal diseases and their families.…”