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. 2022 Jul;64(1):e1-e5.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.02.330. Epub 2022 Feb 26.

COVID-19: Impact on Pediatric Palliative Care

Hannah May Scott  1 , Lucy Coombes  2 , Debbie Braybrook  3 , Anna Roach  4 , Daney Harðardóttir  3 , Katherine Bristowe  3 , Clare Ellis-Smith  3 , Irene Higginson  3 , Wei Gao  3 , Myra Bluebond-Langner  5 , Bobbie Farsides  6 , Fliss Em Murtagh  7 , Lorna K Fraser  8 , Richard Harding  3
Affiliations

COVID-19: Impact on Pediatric Palliative Care

Hannah May Scott et al. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Context: Children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families are potentially vulnerable during COVID-19 lockdowns due to pre-existing high clinical support needs and social participation limitations.

Objectives: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on this population.

Methods: Sub-analysis of an emergent COVID-19 related theme from a larger semi-structured interview study investigating priority pediatric palliative care outcomes. One hundred and six United Kingdom-wide purposively-sampled Children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, parent/carers, siblings, health professionals, and commissioners.

Results: COVID-19 was raised by participants in 12/44 interviews conducted after the United Kingdom's first confirmed COVID-19 case. Key themes included loss of vital social support, disruption to services important to families, and additional psychological distress.

Conclusion: Continued delivery of child- and family-centered palliative care requires innovative assessment and delivery of psycho-social support. Disruptions within treatment and care providers may compound support needs, requiring cordination for families facing multiagency delays.

Keywords: COVID-19; Pediatrics; palliative care.

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