Families value flexibility and compassion in end-of-life care for children with cancer

Families value flexibility and compassion in end-of-life care for children with cancer
Oncology Nurse Advisor; by Megan Garlapow, PhD; 9/18/24 
Bereaved families of children who died of cancer expressed a strong desire for high-quality end-of-life care that balanced comfort with continued treatment efforts, particularly chemotherapy, according to results from a study published in Cancer. Families did not perceive a conflict between comfort care and the pursuit of chemotherapy, seeking both as integral parts of their child’s final days. Despite variations in race and location, there was no clear preference for home or hospital deaths, with the median preference score being neutral at 3.0 on a 5-point Likert scale, ... Instead, decisions surrounding the location of death were often driven by the child’s preferences, medical needs, the impact on other family members, and prior experiences with death. ... Family decision-making was centered on maintaining hope, avoiding harm, and doing what was best for their child and themselves, with religious beliefs playing a significant role.