Perceptions of physicians caring for pediatric patients with cancer in Europe: insights into the use of palliative care, its timing, and barriers to early integration.

Background: Integrating pediatric palliative care (PPC) into pediatric oncology standard care is essential. Therefore, it is important to assess physicians' knowledge and perceptions of PPC to optimize its practice.

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, comfort levels, and perspectives of physicians regarding the timing and perceived barriers to integrating PPC into pediatric cancer care across Europe.

Embracing paediatric palliative care in paediatric oncology from diagnosis onwards.

Paediatric palliative care aims to support children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, and their families, from the time of diagnosis. Early integration within oncology has been recognised as having benefits for all involved, whatever the outcome may be. Through improved communication and advance care planning, it enables user-centred care, where concerns about quality of life, preferences and values are given the same relevance as cutting-edge therapy.