Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41883325›Full record

ArticlePalliative & supportive care2026

Palliative care provision for children in general practice: A retrospective cohort study.

Marijanne Engel, Matthew P Grant, Anna Kleiboer, Everlien de Graaf, Saskia C C M Teunissen, Marijke C Kars

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Palliative & supportive care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Marijanne EngelJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Nursing Science, Center of Expertise in Palliative Care Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3625-7839
Matthew P GrantJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Nursing Science, Center of Expertise in Palliative Care Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Anna KleiboerDepartment of Internal Medicine, Meander Medical Center, Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
Everlien de GraafJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Nursing Science, Center of Expertise in Palliative Care Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Saskia C C M TeunissenJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Nursing Science, Center of Expertise in Palliative Care Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marijke C KarsJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Nursing Science, Center of Expertise in Palliative Care Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesIn the Netherlands, around 750 children (0-21 year) die annually from potentially palliative conditions. The majority of these children reside at home, receiving care from hospital services and primary care. This study aims to examine general practice utilization for pediatric palliative care patients in the last 2 years of life.

methodsA retrospective cohort study was performed using the routine healthcare database of the Julius General Practitioners' Network. The main outcome for general practitioner (GP) utilization was the number of GP consultations for children in the last 3 months of life. Participants were included who were children (0-21 years), and deceased in the period 01-01-2013 to 31-12-2022 from an underlying chronic condition. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and tested for differences in provided care between children who died in hospital and who died at home.

resultsForty-eight children from 32 GP practices met inclusion criteria. Median age was 10.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 1.5-17.1). Common diagnoses were oncological (29%), congenital (29%), and metabolic conditions (23%). Ninety-six percent of children had contact with their GP in the last 3 months (median 7 consultations, IQR 3.0-10.0), i.e. 26 children who died in hospital had median 3.5 GP consultations compared to 20 children who died at home median 9.5 GP consultations ( SIGNIFICANCE OF

resultsThese results demonstrate that GPs are highly involved in providing pediatric palliative care. The palliative nature of these children and advance care planning discussions are not routinely documented and/or performed by GPs. Further insights into guidance that supports GPs, in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, in providing palliative care for children at home and their families are needed.

Indexed as

General PracticePalliative CareAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolCohort StudiesFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleNetherlandsPediatricsRetrospective StudiesChildcohort studyFamilygeneral practicepalliative carepediatrics

Identifiers

PMID41883325
PMCPMC13166309

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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.