Witten/Herdecke University campaigns for better palliative care for children with cancer
On Children's Cancer Day on February 15: Stefanie Stober, research associate at the UW/H, calls for clearer guidelines for palliative care.
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Every year, around 2,250 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in Germany. Although the prognosis for children is generally much better than for adults - more than 80% of them survive - childhood and adolescent cancer is still one of the most common causes of death in this age group. Early palliative care is crucial for these patients.
Palliative care in paediatric oncology: an underestimated factor
"Palliative care is not just about end-of-life care," explains Stefanie Stober, research associate at the Professorship of Nursing Science, Specialising in Children and Adolescents at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H). "It's about filling the remaining time of life with the best possible quality of life - through pain therapy, psychological support and the fulfilment of individual wishes." However, this care often begins far too late: many children only receive palliative care in the last weeks of their lives.
A recent study by Stober shows that unclear definitions, late decisions and a lack of training mean that support often does not begin in time. "We need binding guidelines and more specialised teams to ensure early palliative care," she demands.
Five influencing factors for better palliative care
According to Stober, the following measures are crucial to improving the situation:
- Early palliative care: it should be part of treatment from the outset, even if there is a prospect of recovery, to relieve pain and provide psychological support.
- Clear definitions and standards: In the care of children, there is no standardised definition of when "palliative" care should begin - unlike for adults. This lack of clarity means that important decisions are delayed and the necessary support comes too late.
- More specialised teams: Interdisciplinary teams with medical, psychological and nursing expertise must be further expanded.
- More research funding: Investment in innovative treatment approaches and the optimisation of palliative care is urgently needed.
Raising awareness and training: Doctors, carers and those affected must be better informed and trained to enable early decisions to be made.
"Every child with cancer deserves the best possible care - regardless of the prognosis," summarises Stefanie Stober. "We need to set the right course for this now." This is why she is devoting her doctoral thesis to this important topic and developing specific solutions and recommendations for action to define palliative care for children with cancer more clearly and enable it to be provided earlier.
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Svenja Malessa
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