A Qualitative Study Describing Pediatric Palliative Care in Non-Metropolitan Areas of Illinois.

Background: There is little information about providing pediatric palliative care (PPC) in non-metropolitan areas.

Objective: Describe the strengths of and challenges to delivering PPC in non-metropolitan communities and identify opportunities to improve care delivery.

Design: A qualitative study involving focus groups (FGs) with PPC stakeholders.

Understanding Public Views about Air Quality and Air Pollution Sources in the San Joaquin Valley, California.

The San Joaquin Valley of California has poor air quality and high rates of asthma. Surveys were collected from 744 residents of the San Joaquin Valley from November 2014 to January 2015 to examine the public's views about air quality. The results of this study suggest that participants exposed to high PM (particulate matter less than 2.

Latino and Non-Latino Perceptions of the Air Quality in California's San Joaquin Valley.

The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California has poor air quality, high rates of asthma, and high rates of obesity. Informational campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of the health impacts of poor air quality and promoting behavior change need to be tailored to the specific target audiences. The study examined perceptions of air quality, perceived health impacts, and methods of accessing information about air quality between Latinos and other groups in the SJV.

Illness perceptions and coping determine quality of life in COPD patients.

Background: A key goal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care is to improve patients' quality of life (QoL). For outcomes such as QoL, illness perceptions and coping are important determinants.

Aim: The primary aim was to assess the associations between illness perceptions, coping and QoL in COPD patients.

Pediatric Coccidioidomycosis Patients: Perceptions, Quality of Life and Psychosocial Factors.

Research investigating the effects of coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) on children and the psychosocial implications of this disease in general is lacking. This study reviews what is known about pediatric coccidioidomycosis patients. It documents the psychological functioning, quality of life, and illness perceptions of a sample of coccidioidomycosis patient families.

Families' Perspectives of Quality of Life in Pediatric Palliative Care Patients.

Medical and academic institutions began prioritizing Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) less than two decades ago. Although policies and institutions claim to improve the Quality of Life (QoL) of PPC patients and their families, family-defined QoL remains ambiguous. This research investigates the definitions of QoL for PPC patients according to their primary caregivers.

Families' Views of Pediatric Palliative Aquatics: A Qualitative Study.

Although pediatric palliative care policies and services have been developed, research in this area continues to lag. An integrated model of palliative care has been suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics and includes complementary and alternative services aimed at improving the well-being of children and their families. The first-known pediatric palliative aquatics program (PPAP) in California uses several techniques to decrease pain and promote well-being through relaxation and interaction between patients, specialists, and family members.

Valley fever: danger lurking in a dust cloud.

Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii contribute to the development of Valley Fever. The ability of these fungal pathogens to evade the host immune system creates difficulty in recognition and treatment of this debilitating infection. In this review, we describe the current knowledge of Valley Fever and approaches to improve prevention, detection, and treatment.

Caregivers' estimations of their children's perceptions of death as a biological concept.

Communication about death is often a sensitive topic in families with children. The present studied compared answers of 141 school children aged 5-7 to questions about death, and their caregivers' predictions. Children were interviewed, and caregivers answered on paper, questions on inevitability, applicability, irreversibility, cessation, causation, and personal mortality.

The voices of young New Zealanders involved in pediatric palliative care.

The perspectives of young New Zealanders receiving pediatric palliative care (PPC) are not well understood. A qualitative study of the perceptions of 16 PPC patients and their siblings, aged 9 to 18, was conducted through audio and written diary accounts. Inductive thematic analysis revealed several concerns.

Siblings caring for and about pediatric palliative care patients.

Background: The experiences of young people who have siblings with life-limiting illnesses are not well understood.

Aim: The study proposed to identify the concerns of siblings of pediatric palliative care (PPC) patients.

Design And Measurement: Semistructured interviews were administered to participants and analyzed using qualitative inductive thematic analysis.