Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35820910›Full record

SynthesisBMC palliative care2022

Communicating with young children who have a parent dying of a life-limiting illness: a qualitative systematic review of the experiences and impact on healthcare, social and spiritual care professionals.

Lasitha M Wickramasinghe, Zhi Zheng Yeo, Poh Heng Chong, Bridget Johnston

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC palliative care, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing 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

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

  1. Psychosocial interventions for families with minor children affected by parental cancer: An umbrella review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. The usage of family audiobooks as a legacy for grieving children - an exploratory quantitative analysis among terminally ill parents and close persons.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Article
  6. Article
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

4 authors.

Lasitha M WickramasingheHCA Hospice, 705 Serangoon Road, #03-01 Block A @ Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, Singapore, 328127, Singapore. lasithaw@hcahospicecare.org.sg.
Zhi Zheng YeoHCA Hospice, 705 Serangoon Road, #03-01 Block A @ Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, Singapore, 328127, Singapore.
Poh Heng ChongHCA Hospice, 705 Serangoon Road, #03-01 Block A @ Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, Singapore, 328127, Singapore.
Bridget JohnstonSchool of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealthcare professionals play a key role in interacting with children who have a parent with a life-limiting illness. While playing such a role can be challenging, not much is known about how such interactions impact these professionals and affect their ability to render support.

methodsFour databases were searched with the intention to conduct a qualitative systematic review. Articles were selected based on pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Their quality was assessed using the tool "Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a Variety of Fields". Findings were analysed using thematic analysis techniques outlined by Thomas and Harden as well as Sandelowski and Barroso. Review was registered with the Review Registry database.

resultsThree themes emerged - healthcare professionals' discomfort; their assumptions and actions; and potentiating workplace factors. The discomfort had several dimensions: fear of making a situation worse, concern of not being able to cope with emotionally charged situations, and internal conflict that arose when their values clashed with family dynamics.

conclusionHealthcare professionals' sense of discomfort was very pronounced. This discomfort, together with their assumptions, could impact their ability to support children. The organisation played an important role, which was reflected in the work culture, workflow and ability to collaborate with other agencies involved in supporting children. The discomfort was mitigated by having more professional experience, workplace support systems and training on communicating with children. It was apparent that the individual professional did not work alone when supporting children but alongside others within an organisation. As such, issues raised in this review will benefit from multi-faceted solutions.

Indexed as

ParentsSpiritual TherapiesChildChild, PreschoolDelivery of Health CareHealth PersonnelHumansQualitative ResearchDependent childrenDyingEnd of lifeHealthcare professionalHealthcare workerPalliative careTerminally illYoung children

Identifiers

PMID35820910
PMCPMC9277932

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.