Full Description
This book is the first authoritative, systematic and comprehensive text to define the increasingly important and evolving specialty of pediatric palliative care. It explores both the clinical aspects and the multidimensional and holistic nature of care for the dying child, based on the knowledge that all human experience has a physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual impact. The book covers ways of providing support in all of these areas both for the child, families, and carers, recognizing the importance of teamwork and taking an evidence-based approach. The "Oxford Textbook of Palliative Care for Children" is about the care of children for whom cure of their underlying disease is not possible. It encompasses the physical management of symptoms such as pain and nausea, as well as social issues such as accessing appropriate education and funding, emotional issues such as techniques for communication, and spiritual issues such as feelings of guilt and isolation. The book suggests that if we are to maintain the quality of life for a child, it is essential to recognize all these dimensions and try to address them.
This can only be done by recognizing the skills of a wide range of professionals and working together in ways that are not always intuitive to any one discipline. It explores the multidimensional and holistic nature of care for the dying child. Those working in pediatric palliative care recognize that all human experience has emotional, psychological, and spiritual impact as well as physical, and this book attempts to find ways of providing support in all these.
Contents
A. FOUNDATIONS OF CARE; 1. Development & epidemiology; 2. The child's journey; 3. Communications; 4. Ethics; B. CHILD AND FAMILY CARE; 5. Creative lens; 6. Spiritual life; 7. Children's views on death; 8. Psychological impact of life-limiting conditions; 9. Adolescents and young adults; 10. Children expressing themselves; 11. School; 12. Child and family assessment; 13. Impact of life-limiting conditions on the family; 14. After the child's death; 15. Bereavement; 16. Ritual and religion; C. SYMPTOM CARE; 17. Symptoms in life-limiting illness; 18. Using medications; 19. Pain - an introduction; 20. Pain - assessment; 21. Pain - pharmacological management; 22. Pain - an integrative approach; 23. Gastrointestinal symptoms; 24. Feeding and nutrition; 25. Depression, anxiety and agitation; 26. Neurological and neuromuscular symptoms; 27. Respiratory symptoms; 28. Skin symptoms; 29. Haematological symptoms; 30. HIV and AIDS; 31. Complementary and alternative medicine; 32. Symptom control at the end of life; D. DELIVERY OF CARE; 33. Working as a team; 34. Healthcare providers' responses to the death of a child; 35. Place of care; 36. Intensive care units; 37. International aspects; 38. Quality assurance; 39. Education and training; 40. Research; APPENDICES; 1. Drug doses
