Describing the psychosocial profile and unmet support needs of parents caring for a child with a life-limiting condition: A cross-sectional study of caregiver-reported outcomes.
Palliative care
caregiver
paediatrics
psychological
quality of life
stress
terminally ill
Journal
Palliative medicine
ISSN: 1477-030X
Titre abrégé: Palliat Med
Pays: England
ID NLM: 8704926
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
03 2020
03 2020
Historique:
pubmed:
28
2
2020
medline:
2
3
2021
entrez:
28
2
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
There is a lack of studies examining the prevalence and severity of psychosocial distress in parents caring for a child with life-limiting condition. More research is also needed to better understand the experience, support needs and quality-of-life of this population. To describe the experience and support needs of caring for children with life-limiting conditions and examine the level of distress and quality-of-life experienced by parents. Cross-sectional, prospective, quantitative study guided by an advisory group. Participants completed a survey that included demographics and self-report outcome measures of unmet support needs, appraisal of caregiving, psychological distress and quality-of-life. Bivariate correlation analyses were performed to examine for associations between measures. Parents currently caring for one or more children (⩽18 years) with a life-limiting condition and registered with a paediatric palliative care service (Australia). In total, 143 parents (88% female) completed the questionnaire (36% RR). Compared with population norms, participants reported low quality-of-life, high carer burden and high psychological distress. Almost half (47%) of the sample met the criteria for one or more diagnoses of clinically elevated stress, anxiety or depression. There were significant associations between the psychosocial outcome variables; carer strain and depression had the strongest correlations with quality-of-life ( This study contributes to the growing body of evidence on paediatric palliative care, specifically that parents caring for a child with a life-limiting condition report high levels of distress and burden, low quality-of-life and need more emotional and practical support targeted at their unmet needs. Paediatric palliative care services should routinely assess parent mental health and provide appropriate support.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
There is a lack of studies examining the prevalence and severity of psychosocial distress in parents caring for a child with life-limiting condition. More research is also needed to better understand the experience, support needs and quality-of-life of this population.
AIM
To describe the experience and support needs of caring for children with life-limiting conditions and examine the level of distress and quality-of-life experienced by parents.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional, prospective, quantitative study guided by an advisory group. Participants completed a survey that included demographics and self-report outcome measures of unmet support needs, appraisal of caregiving, psychological distress and quality-of-life. Bivariate correlation analyses were performed to examine for associations between measures.
SETTING/PARTICIPANTS
Parents currently caring for one or more children (⩽18 years) with a life-limiting condition and registered with a paediatric palliative care service (Australia).
RESULTS
In total, 143 parents (88% female) completed the questionnaire (36% RR). Compared with population norms, participants reported low quality-of-life, high carer burden and high psychological distress. Almost half (47%) of the sample met the criteria for one or more diagnoses of clinically elevated stress, anxiety or depression. There were significant associations between the psychosocial outcome variables; carer strain and depression had the strongest correlations with quality-of-life (
CONCLUSIONS
This study contributes to the growing body of evidence on paediatric palliative care, specifically that parents caring for a child with a life-limiting condition report high levels of distress and burden, low quality-of-life and need more emotional and practical support targeted at their unmet needs. Paediatric palliative care services should routinely assess parent mental health and provide appropriate support.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32103697
doi: 10.1177/0269216319892825
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM