Trends in location of death for individuals with pediatric cancer

Trends in location of death for individuals with pediatric cancer
JAMA Pediatrics; Urvish Jain, BSc; Angelin Tresa Mathew, BSc; Bhav Jain, BS; Erin Jay Garbes Feliciano, MD, MBA; Edward Christopher Dee, MD; Leonard H. Wexler, MD; Suzanne L. Wolden, MD; 9/24
Children and adolescents with cancer face unique symptomatic, psychosocial, and existential challenges at the end of life (EOL). Premature death, severe pain, and complex symptoms can be distressing for patients and families. In contrast to prior literature regarding trends on adults with cancer, in this study, the pediatric population had lower rates of death at home, potentially because pediatric patients receive more aggressive EOL treatment than adult patients. Our study found differences among racial and ethnic minority groups, who were more likely to die in hospitals, outpatient settings, and ED facilities. As such, developing capacities for palliative care teams that can reach patients across many EOL settings may be valuable for helping patients and families achieve a death congruent with their wishes, particularly because of persistent differences by race over the past 20 years paralleling findings in adult populations.