Urgent Need for Quality End-of-Life Care for Kids With Cancer
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Despite greater focus on pediatric palliative and supportive oncology services in the United States, children with cancer may not be receiving high-quality end-of-life care. Many children with advanced cancer report incredible pain, fatigue, and nausea near the end of life, and over 60% of children with cancer die in the hospital, despite evidence that most families prefer to be at home.
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@minia Interdisciplinary care: assessing financial needs and challenges as well as providing psychological support for the child and family, palliative care and/or hospice services, and bereavement services after the child's death
Hospital policies and programs: eliminating visiting hour, age, and number restrictions at end-of-life
Avoidance of medically intense end-of-life care: forgoing intubation in the last 4 days of life, two or more ED visits in the last 30 days of life, and death in the intensive care unit