Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients.

Traumatic experiences are not unusual in pediatric heart transplant (HT) recipients before and after transplantation. Post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) present at the time of transplant evaluation and developing afterward occur with an unknown frequency. We sought to determine the burden of these symptoms in heart transplant patients.

Understanding communication among health care professionals regarding death and dying in pediatrics.

Objective: Effective communication regarding death and dying in pediatrics is a vital component of any quality palliative care service. The goal of the current study is to understand communication among health care professionals regarding death and dying in children. The three hypotheses tested were: (1) hospital staff (physicians of all disciplines, nurses, and psychosocial clinicians) that utilize consultation services are more comfortable communicating about death and dying than those who do not use such services, (2) different disciplines of health care providers demonstrate varying levels of comfort communicating about a range of areas pertaining to death and dying, and (3) health care staff that have had some type of formal training in death and dying are more comfortable communicating about these issues.

Parent self-efficacy for managing pain in seriously ill children and adolescents nearing end of life.

Objective: Using data from a multi-site study of parent-child symptom reporting concordance, this secondary analysis explored the role of parent self-efficacy related to pain management for seriously ill school-age children and adolescents.

Method: In the initial study, 50 children and adolescents who were expected to survive 3 years or less were recruited along with their parent/primary caregiver. Parent self-report data were used in this secondary analysis to describe parent self-efficacy for managing their child's pain, caregiver strain, mood states, and perception of the child's pain; to explore relationships among these variables; and to determine predictors of greater self-efficacy.

A longitudinal method of teaching pediatric palliative care to interns: preliminary findings regarding changes in interns' comfort level.

Objective: A longitudinal pediatric palliative care curriculum was introduced into the pediatric residency program at the University of California, Los Angeles. The present study explores the possible effects of this curriculum on the interns' self-assessed comfort levels regarding caring for children with life-threatening conditions.

Methods: A newly created assessment tool was administered to interns in order to rate their comfort regarding pediatric palliative care at the beginning and conclusion of their intern year.

Parent and child perspectives on physician communication in pediatric palliative care.

Objective: Despite growing recognition of the importance of communication with children with life-limiting illnesses and their families, there has been limited research that includes the child's perspective. The purpose of the current study was to identify the aspects of physician communication that children with life-limiting illnesses and their parents perceived to be facilitative or obstructive in pediatric palliative care.

Methods: This qualitative study reports on the first 20 parent and child pairs of pediatric oncology and cardiology patients (mean age 14.

Psychosocial dimensions of cancer in adolescents and young adults.

Psychosocial research examining the impact of cancer on adolescents and young adults has focused mostly on domains relating to family, psychological/emotional impact and social effects. An overview of the evidence-based literature available in each of these domains is presented to highlight the trends and provide a basis for clinical application. A review of the research literature was conducted to summarize what is known regarding the psychosocial dimensions of cancer in adolescents and young adults.

Sexual health and self-esteem in adolescents and young adults with cancer.

A diagnosis of cancer compounds the complexities of adolescent development. Self-esteem and sexual health have a significant impact on adolescent identity formation, especially those young patients coping with a diagnosis of cancer. Knowledge of sexual health, interpersonal relationships, and body image concerns are factors that have an impact on the development of self-esteem during these transition periods into adulthood.