The Impact of a Palliative Care Team on Residents' Experiences and Comfort Levels with Pediatric Palliative Care

Abstract

8,600 children are eligible for palliative care services each day in the US, yet many pediatric residents and pediatricians do not feel comfortable providing palliative/end of life care. To evaluate the impact of a palliative care team (PCT) on pediatric and internal medicine/pediatric (IM/Peds) residents knowledge, comfort level and experience providing pediatric palliative care (PPC). Electronic 32-item questionnaire. Pediatric and IM/Peds residents at ACGME accredited programs during the 2011-2012 academic year. Residents' PPC training, knowledge, comfort levels and experiences. Nearly two-thirds of 294 respondents (63.6%; 95% CI: 58.2, 69.1) selected a description of PPC that describes palliative care as starting at the time of diagnosis regardless of treatment goals. Participants who reported the presence of a PCT at their institution selected this accurate description of PPC more often than those who did not report the presence of a PCT (72.3% vs. 53.3%; p<0.001, Fisher's Exact Test). Overall, 55.3% (95% CI: 49.2, 61.3) were comfortable providing PPC. Reporting the presence of a PCT was also associated with more comfort in providing PPC (p<0.01). Reported presence of a PCT may be associated with greater resident comfort in providing PPC and a more accurate understanding of PPC. There remains ample opportunity to educate pediatric and IM/Peds residents in PPC.