Abstract
ObjectiveTo explore factors that influence professionals in deciding whether to withdraw treatment from a child and how decision making is managed amongst professionals as an individual and as a team.Study DesignSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of health professionals working at a UK Children's Hospital, with children with life‐limiting illnesses whose treatment has been withdrawn. Data were transcribed verbatim, anonymized and analysed using a thematic framework method.ResultsA total of 15 participants were interviewed. Five interrelated themes with associated subthemes were generated to help understand the experiences of health professionals in decision making on withdrawing a child's treatment: (1) understanding the child's best interests, (2) multidisciplinary approach, (3) external factors, (4) psychological well‐being and (5) recommendations to support shared decision making.ConclusionA shared decision‐making approach should be adopted to support professionals, children and their families to make decisions collectively.
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