Children with palliative care needs - the landscape of the nordic countries

• Published in: BMC palliative care Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 118
• Main Authors: Winger, Anette, Holmen, Heidi, Birgisdóttir, Dröfn, Lykke, Camilla, Lövgren, Malin, Neergaard, Mette Asbjoern, Grönroos, Marika, Kero, Johanna, Kristinsdóttir, Oddný, Pétursdóttir, Ásta Bjarney, Castor, Charlotte
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 08.05.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Care models; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Collaboration; Collaborative overview; Education; Health aspects; Health care; Health care industry; Health Sciences; Health Services Needs and Demand - trends; Humans; Hälsovetenskap; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Nordic countries; Nursing; Omvårdnad; Palliative care; Palliative Care - methods; Palliative Care - standards; Palliative Care - trends; Palliative treatment; Pediatric palliative care; Pediatric palliative education; Pediatrics; Pediatrics - methods; Pediatrics - trends; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; Workshops; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; Denmark; United Kingdom; Sweden; Norway; Iceland; Finland; Greenland; Care models; Collaborative overview; Nordic countries; Research; Pediatric palliative education; Pediatric palliative care
• ISSN: 1472-684X; 1472-684X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01447-x

To strengthen palliative care for children in the Nordic countries, an updated status of current needs, resources, clinical services, education, and research is necessary to align and consolidate future research. A Nordic research collaboration initiative for children with palliative care needs was assembled in 2023. Building on this initiative, this paper presents an overview of pediatric palliative care (PPC) in the Nordic countries' (a) population characteristics, (b) care models and setting of care, (c) education and training, and (d) research. The Nordic initiative researchers collaboratively gathered and assessed available data on the characteristics of PPC within Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Sweden, and Åland. Data were compiled in a matrix with population characteristics, models- and setting of care, education and training, and areas of research in a Nordic context. The findings are narratively and descriptively presented, providing an overview of Nordic PPC. In total, the Nordic child population comprises around six million children (0-19 years), of which about 41.200 are estimated to be living with a life-limiting and/or life-threatening condition. Healthcare services are provided through various care models, ranging from specialized care to homecare settings. Overall, there remain few opportunities for education and training with some exceptions. Also, Nordic research within PPC has been shown to be a growing field although much remains to be done. This overview is the first outline of the current PPC in Nordic countries. Although some differences remain important to acknowledge, overall, the strengths and challenges faced within PPC in the Nordic countries are comparable and call for joint action to increase evidence, services, and education to better serve the children, families, and healthcare personnel within PPC. Despite the varying structural premises for PPC, research endeavors aiming to provide evidence in this field seem increasing, timely and relevant for the Nordic countries, as well as the international context.