Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42159767›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of pediatrics2026

Interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatric palliative care: a qualitative study on barriers and facilitators as perceived by parents and healthcare professionals.

Maureen M Kemna, Judith L Aris-Meijer, A A Eduard Verhagen, Saskia C C M Teunissen, Marijanne Engel, Marijke C Kars

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

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.

Maureen M KemnaJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice & Nursing Science, Center of Expertise in Palliative Care Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3548 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.m.kemna-2@umcutrecht.nl.
Judith L Aris-MeijerUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
A A Eduard VerhagenUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Saskia C C M TeunissenJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice & Nursing Science, Center of Expertise in Palliative Care Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3548 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marijanne EngelJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice & Nursing Science, Center of Expertise in Palliative Care Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3548 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marijke C KarsJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice & Nursing Science, Center of Expertise in Palliative Care Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3548 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) requires involvement of various healthcare professionals (HCPs) across home and hospital settings to address the complex needs of children and families. Interdisciplinary collaboration (IDC) among HCPs and parents is crucial for the coordination, continuation, and quality of PPC. Yet, IDC remains difficult to achieve in practice. We aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to IDC in PPC as experienced by expert parents and HCPs in order to strengthen PPC. An exploratory multiple-case study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Cases consisted of (non-)bereaved parents of a child qualifying for PPC and their involved HCPs. Data was thematically analyzed using the QUAGOL method. Nine cases, representing nine children, were included, comprising interviews with 14 parents and 39 HCPs. Barriers and facilitators to IDC were context-dependent and spanned seven domains: network, interdependence, goals of care, roles and tasks, added value, responsibility, and urgency. IDC typically developed slowly after diagnosis due to barriers such as negative perceptions on collaborative partners or IDC. Collaboration intensified during crisis and the terminal phase due to facilitators such as awareness of being a network.

conclusionIDC in PPC cases is best understood as occurring in situational care networks (SCNs): temporary, child-specific constellations of parents and fluctuating non-standard and transmural collaborating HCPs. This conceptualization exposes vulnerabilities, but also opportunities of support and complementary HCP expertise in PPC collaboration. Early initiation of SCNs seems to better strengthen structural IDC than reactive reliance on parental coordination or crisis-driven senses in PPC. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals and parents is crucial for coordination, continuation, and quality of pediatric palliative care. • Parents and healthcare professionals report challenges regarding collaboration in pediatric palliative care. WHAT IS NEW: • Besides facilitators and barriers in interpersonal interactions, individual attitudes and perceptions affect interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatric palliative care. • Conceptualizing collaboration as situational care networks of non-standard, transmural collaboration between healthcare professionals and parents may strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelHealth PersonnelInterdisciplinary CommunicationPalliative CareParentsPatient Care TeamAdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolCooperative BehaviorFemaleHumansInfantInterviews as TopicMaleBarriersFacilitatorsInterdisciplinary collaborationPediatric palliative careSituational care networks

Identifiers

PMID42159767
PMCPMC13190755

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.