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Who are the children using hospice care?
Author(s) -
Lindley Lisa C.,
Shaw ShihLung
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal for specialists in pediatric nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1744-6155
pISSN - 1539-0136
DOI - 10.1111/jspn.12085
Subject(s) - medicaid , hospice care , medicine , family medicine , disease , health care , nursing , gerontology , palliative care , pathology , economics , economic growth
Purpose The purpose was to examine the characteristics of children who use hospice care. Design and Methods Using the A ndersen M odel of H ealth S ervices U se, C alifornia M edicaid administrative databases were analyzed to describe the characteristics of 76 children in hospice. Results The predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics of children were identified. Children who used hospice were a diverse group with community resources that enabled them to access care while presenting with serious health needs. Children enrolled in hospice were more likely older (15–20 years of age), resided nearer a pediatric hospice, and had a serious health condition such as neuromuscular disease with multiple comorbidities. Practice Implications With this knowledge, pediatric nurses can improve their clinical practice by targeting conversations with families and children most in need of hospice care.