Reflecting on palliative care for children, young people and their families: a revised model.

The unique needs of children requiring palliative care and their families have been increasingly recognised on a global scale. The complexities of such care, the unpredictability of the illness trajectory and increased choice in terms of where care is provided has led to challenges for nurses/practitioners striving to provide optimal care for these families. Working in partnership with children and families and reflecting on practice are key issues in providing care and support.

Children and young people's experiences of having a sibling with complex health needs: a literature review.

Children with complex health needs require significant healthcare input for one or more conditions. Much of the literature on the effects of living with children with complex heath needs focuses on parents, and there is little research into the effects on siblings. This article reports on a literature review that examined the experiences of siblings growing up with a brother or sister with complex health needs and how this affects their lives.

Rights Based, Participatory Interviews with Disabled Children and Young People: Practical and Methodological Considerations.

There has been an increased emphasis on the voice of the child since the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991. Since that time, health and social care researchers have increasingly involved disabled children and young people in research, rather than relying on the views of adults as proxies, for example, parents and professionals. Drawing on doctoral research and the extensive experience of the authors, the aim of this article is to critically reflect on "what worked" along with the challenges of interviewing the children and young people who took part.

Ethical considerations when conducting research with children and young people with disabilities in health and social care.

Background Rights-based approaches for conducting research with children and young people are now widely accepted by those working in the field. Such approaches focus on the voice of the child and are underpinned by a firm recognition that children are experts on their own lives. However, children and young people with disabilities are less likely to take part in research.

We are not alone: international learning for professionals caring for children requiring palliative care.

Background: Educational opportunities for professionals working with children requiring palliative care are central to future development within the specialty across countries. International educational initiatives involving a range of professionals are important for learning with and from others working within the field.

Aim: To explore the experiences and value to students from participating in an international online discussion forum.

Opioid-induced constipation in children's palliative care.

Accurate assessment and management of children's symptoms at the end of life is a vital part of the children's nurse role. Most children experience pain at this stage and opioids are the drug of choice in those requiring a palliative approach to care. Opioids are, however, not without side effects; the most common is constipation.

The use of biographies and stories in paediatric palliative care education.

Paediatric palliative care has emerged as a distinct specialty over recent years and, as a consequence, robust and innovative educational programmes are required to further develop the exisitng attitudes and skills of practitioners working within this field. Understanding the experiences of children and families is key to providing quality care in this context and a number of teaching and learning activities have been reported in the literature. This article discusses one such learning activity--the use of parent biographies and stories by students undertaking the paediatric palliative care programme at Queen's University Belfast, UK.

Developing an educational programme in paediatric palliative care.

Paediatric palliative care has increasingly been recognised as a specialist area of practice. Essentially it is a holistic approach to care that embraces a range of elements concerned with not only the management of symptoms but also the psychosocial and spiritual needs of the child and family through death and bereavement. Children requiring palliative care represent a diverse patient group whose illness trajectories are often prolonged and unpredictable and this creates much stress for children themselves, their families and professionals who support them (Price and McFarlane, 2006).

Breaking bad news to parents: the children's nurse's role.

Breaking bad news is an extremely difficult and challenging process for the health care professional. The National Service Framework for Children in the UK highlights that the manner in which the health care professional delivers bad news impacts upon the way it is received, interpreted, understood and dealt with. The children's nurse, as an instrumental member of the multidisciplinary team caring for the child and family, is central to this complex communication process.

The use of syringe drivers: a paediatric perspective.

Successful symptom management in the palliative and terminal care of patients frequently involves the use of syringe drivers. A wealth of literature exists to support their use in the care of adult patients both within specialist palliative care inpatient units and in the community setting. However, little has been written regarding their use in the paediatric population.