Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29478188›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2018

Palliative care in Swiss pediatric oncology settings: a retrospective analysis of medical records.

Michael Rost, Elaine Acheson, Thomas Kühne, Marc Ansari, Nadia Pacurari, Pierluigi Brazzola, Felix Niggli, Bernice S Elger, Tenzin Wangmo

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Integration of Pediatric Palliative Care in Oncology: A Scoping Review.Journal of pediatrics. Clinical practice · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Michael RostInstitute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, -4056, Basel, CH, Switzerland. Michael.rost@unibas.ch.
Elaine AchesonInstitute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, -4056, Basel, CH, Switzerland.
Thomas KühnePediatric Oncology and Hematology, University of Basel Children's Hospital UKBB Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Marc AnsariDepartment of Pediatric, Oncology and Hematology Unit, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
Nadia PacurariInstitute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, -4056, Basel, CH, Switzerland.
Pierluigi BrazzolaOspedale Regionale di Bellinzona e Valli, Pediatria, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
Felix NiggliDepatment of Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Bernice S ElgerInstitute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, -4056, Basel, CH, Switzerland.
Tenzin WangmoInstitute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, -4056, Basel, CH, Switzerland.

Funding

Swiss National Science Foundation, National Research Programme 67 "End of Life" Grant-No. 406740_139283/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study examined the provision of palliative care and related decision-making in Swiss pediatric oncology settings. The aim was to determine if and when children who died from cancer received palliative care, whether there were differences by cancer diagnosis, and inclusion of children in decision-making regarding palliative care.

methodsUsing a standardized data extraction form, a retrospective review of medical records of deceased pediatric patients was conducted. The form captured information on demographics, diagnosis, relapse(s), treatments, decision-making during palliative care, and circumstances surrounding a child's death.

resultsFor 170 patients, there was information on whether the child received palliative care. Among those, 38 cases (22%) did not receive palliative care. For 16 patients, palliative care began at diagnosis. The mean duration of palliative care was 145 days (Mdn = 89.5, SD = 183.4). Decision to begin palliative care was discussed solely with parent(s) in 60.9% of the cases. In 39.1%, the child was involved. These children were 13.6 years of age (SD = 4.6), whereas those not included were 7.16 years old (SD = 3.9). Leukemia patients were less likely to receive palliative care than the overall sample, and patients with CNS neoplasms received palliative care for a longer time than other patients.

conclusionsThere are still high numbers of late or non-referrals, and even children older than 12 years were not involved in decision-making regarding palliative care. These results do not align with international organizational guidelines which recommend that palliative care should begin at diagnosis.

Indexed as

ChildFemaleHumansMaleMedical RecordsNeoplasmsPalliative CareRetrospective StudiesSwedenDecision-makingInvolvement of the childPediatric oncologyPediatric palliative care

Identifiers

PMID29478188

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.