Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40169364›Full record

SynthesisJournal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing2025

Experiences of Family Caregivers of Children Aged 1-23 Months Who Have Received Pediatric Palliative Care: A Systematic Review With Qualitative Metasynthesis.

Juan Manuel Vázquez Sánchez, Manuela Rodríguez Sánchez, Emilio Mota Romero, Ana Alejandra Esteban Burgos, Rafael Montoya Juárez, César Hueso Montoro, Daniel Puente Fernández

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

7 authors.

Juan Manuel Vázquez SánchezHospital Universitario Virgen de Las Nieves, Granada, Spain.
Manuela Rodríguez SánchezUniversidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.ORCID 0009-0005-7427-9598
Emilio Mota RomeroInstituto Biosanitario Ibs Granada, Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-9980-9947
Ana Alejandra Esteban BurgosInstituto Biosanitario Ibs Granada, Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-0665-1106
Rafael Montoya JuárezInstituto Biosanitario Ibs Granada, Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-2472-0590
César Hueso MontoroInstituto Biosanitario Ibs Granada, Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-1515-3870
Daniel Puente FernándezInstituto Biosanitario Ibs Granada, Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-4917-9078

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFamily caregivers of children receiving pediatric palliative care (PPC) play a crucial role in their care and wellbeing, especially during the early stages of life.

objectiveTo explore the experience of family caregivers of children aged 1-23 months who are receiving pediatric palliative care (PPC).

methodsA systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cuiden. The studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. The selected studies were synthesized using Noblit and Hare's meta-ethnographic method.

resultsEleven studies, 169 themes, 36 metaphors and four main themes were identified. Caregivers develop coping strategies related to meaning-making, faith, maintaining hope, and decision-making abilities. They perceive limited time with the child due to structural constraints and the child's deteriorating health, which sometimes prevents them from recognizing their child's identity. Caregivers strive to remain united and rebuild the daily family life they long for, but face challenges related to self-care, maintaining employment, and caring for siblings and their partner. In many cases, they are unsatisfied with the care they receive, attributed to a lack of technical training and understanding of the principles of pediatric palliative care (PPC) by healthcare staff, poor communication skills, and inadequate coordination. Caregivers highlight the role of nurses and the PPC team, advanced care planning, and post-mortem care as positive aspects. DISCUSSION/

conclusionCaregivers' experiences reveal coping strategies, active decision-making, constant challenges, healthcare interactions, and a need for improved comprehensive support. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study underscores the importance of addressing the unique needs of family caregivers of children aged 1-23 months receiving pediatric palliative care (PPC), highlighting their struggles with social isolation, neglected self-care, and disrupted family life. Healthcare providers should prioritize age-specific approaches to PPC, focusing on improving communication, care coordination, and understanding of palliative care principles to better support these caregivers.

Indexed as

CaregiversPalliative CareAdaptation, PsychologicalFemaleHumansInfantMaleQualitative Researchcoping strategiesend‐of‐life carefamily caregiversinfantspalliative carepediatric palliative medicinequalitative research

Identifiers

PMID40169364
PMCPMC12241757

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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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.