Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40468281›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2025

Parents' experiences of the financial and employment impacts of their child receiving end-of-life care: a national qualitative study.

Laura Barrett, George Peat, Emma Victoria McLorie, Helen Weatherly, Sebastian Hinde, Gabriella Lake Walker, Jane Noyes, Sam Oddie, Chakrapani Vasudevan, Richard G Feltbower and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. A Mixed-Methods Exploration of the Quality of Care and Care Needs for Asian Children and Young Adults With Serious Long-Term Conditions.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
    Observational
  2. 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

18 authors.

Laura BarrettThe Paediatric Palliative Care Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of York, Rowntree Building Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK. laura.barrett@york.ac.uk.
George PeatDepartment of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Emma Victoria McLorieSchool of Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Helen WeatherlyCentre for Health Economics, University of York, York, UK.
Sebastian HindeCentre for Health Economics, University of York, York, UK.
Gabriella Lake WalkerParent Advisory Panel Member, York, UK.
Jane NoyesSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Sam OddieBradford Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Bradford, UK.
Chakrapani VasudevanBradford Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Bradford, UK.
Richard G FeltbowerLeeds Institute for Data Analytics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Bob PhillipsCentre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York and Hull-York Medical School, York, UK.
Catherine HewittYork Trials Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
Richard HainNoah's Ark Children's Hospital, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
Gayathri SubramanianRoyal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
Andrew HaynesThe Paediatric Palliative Care Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of York, Rowntree Building Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
Fliss E M MurtaghWolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK.
Julia HackettCicely Saunders Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, King's College London, London, UK.
Lorna Katharine FraserCicely Saunders Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, King's College London, London, UK.

Funding

UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Health Services and Delivery NIHR129213
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBereaved parents are at higher risk of poor mental and physical health outcomes than people bereaved under other circumstances. These challenges are exacerbated by the continued effects on parents' working lives and the financial strain of a child receiving end-of-life care. There has been very little recent research of parents' experiences of these impacts. Analysis of data from the second workstream of a national research programme on end-of-life care for infants, children and young people (ENHANCE) aimed to understand parents' experiences of the impact on their finances and working lives while their child received end-of-life care.

methodsA multi-site qualitative study using in-depth interviews with bereaved parents, analysed using thematic analysis. Recruited through NHS sites, children's hospices and via the social media of third sector organisations.

resultsForty-two interviews with 55 parents were conducted (Fathers = 16, Mothers = 39), representing 44 children. Four themes were developed: (1) The added cost burden; (2) Pressures of juggling work; (3) Accessing support; and (4) Financial impacts continue after a child dies.

conclusionsFinancial hardship is a known consequence of having a child with a life-limiting condition, especially at the end of life, and adds considerable stress to an already painful situation, with the aftermaths continuing into bereavement. The impact is exacerbated by parents' need to reduce work so they can spend time caring for their dying child, leaving families in a financially and emotionally vulnerable position. There needs to be a consistent approach to immediate practical support from healthcare providers; a review of benefit system delays and the abrupt stopping of Disability Living Allowance; and the development of tailored employment support for parents to remain in or rejoin the workforce.

Indexed as

EmploymentParentsTerminal CareAdolescentAdultBereavementChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchEmploymentFinancial supportGuidelinesPaediatric care servicesPaediatric end-of-life carePalliative careQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID40468281
PMCPMC12139220

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.