Attitudes and practices among pediatric oncologists regarding end-of-life care: Results of the 1998 American Society of Clinical Oncology survey

Purpose: In 1998, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) surveyed its membership to assess the attitudes, practices, and challenges associat ed with end-of-life care of patients with cancer. In this report, we summar ize the responses of pediatric oncologists and the implications far care of children dying from cancer. Methods: The survey consisted of 118 questions, covering eight categories. All ASCO members in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom were mailed a survey, which wets completed by 228 pediatric oncologists, Predict ors of particular attitudes and practices were identified using stepwise lo gistic regression analysis. Potential predictors were age, sex, religious a ffiliation, importance of religious beliefs, recent death of a relative, sp ecialty, type of practice (rural or urban, academic or nonacademic), amount of time spent in patient care, number of new patients in the past 6 months , and number of patients who died in the past year. Results: Pediatric oncologists reported a lack of formal courses in pediatr ic palliative care, a strikingly high reliance on trial and error in learni ng to care for dying children, and a need for strong role models in this ar ea. The lack of an accessible palliative care team or pain service was ofte n identified as ct barrier to good care. Communication difficulties exist b etween parents and oncologists, especially regarding the shift to end-of-li fe care and adequate pain control. Conclusion: Pediatric oncologists are working to integrate symptom control, psychosocial support, and palliative care into the routine care of the ser iously ill child, although barriers exist that make such comprehensive care a challenge. J Clin Oncol 19:205-212. (C) 2001 by American Society of Clin ical Oncology.