Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs for pediatric palliative care (PPC) among parents of children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) and to investigate differences in the needs for PPC according to their general characteristics.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March 28 and May 18, 2018. Parents (N=96) who had a child under 18 years with a CCC were recruited. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA.
Results
The overall average need for PPC was 3.58±0.33 out of 4.00. In terms of care for the subjects' children, the highest need was physical care, followed by psychosocial and spiritual care. In the sub-dimensions, preservation of physical function received the highest score. Of the items, the highest need was for seizure control. In terms of care for the subjects themselves, the highest need was for psychosocial care, followed by bereavement and spiritual care. In the sub-dimensions, communication received the highest score. Of the items, the highest need was for smooth communication with medical staff. Differences in needs for PPC according to participants’ general characteristics were not statistically significant.
Conclusion
Medical staff should provide PPC according to the priorities of parents’ perceived needs.

Citations

• Assessing Palliative Care Needs Among Adolescent and Young Adult Patients with Cancer and Their Caregivers in South Korea
  Suheon Oh, Seung Yeon Kwon, Mikyung Park, Hyeon-Jin Kim, Hye Joung Cho, Hyun Ji Hong, Sowon Kim, Hyeon Jin Park, Meerim Park, Hee Jo Baek, Jun Ah Lee
  Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Experiences of Pediatric Palliative Care Among Bereaved Parents Who Lost a Child With Leukemia in South Korea
  Seung Jin Oh, Haeyoung Min, Sunhee Choi, Hye-lyung Hwang, Sujeong Kim
  Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing.2024; 26(2): E74.     CrossRef
• The First Step to Initiate Pediatric Palliative Care: Identify Patient Needs and Cooperation of Medical Staff
  Su Hyun Bae, Yeo Hyang Kim
  Healthcare.2022; 10(1): 127.     CrossRef
• Nurses’ Perceived Needs and Barriers Regarding Pediatric Palliative Care: A Mixed-Methods Study
  Kyung-Ah Kang, SuJeong Yu, Cho Hee Kim, Myung-Nam Lee, Sujeong Kim, So-Hi Kwon, Sanghee Kim, Hyun Sook Kim, Myung-Hee Park, Sung Eun Choi
  The Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care.2022; 25(2): 85.     CrossRef