APPROACH TO PALLIATIVE CARE: PATHWAYS FOR UNDERSTANDING AMONG PEDIATRIC MEDICAL RESIDENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv17n58-024Keywords:
Integrative Pediatrics, Residency Internship, Palliative Care, Teaching HospitalsAbstract
Introducción:Pediatric Palliative Care, as defined by the World Health Organization, encompasses comprehensive symptom control and psychosocial, spiritual, and family-centered support. In pediatrics, palliative strategies must be adapted to developmental stages, physiological particularities, dependency on caregivers, and age-appropriate communication. However, limited exposure during medical training contributes to conceptual misunderstandings and difficulty in managing end-of-life care among pediatric residents.ObjectiveTo evaluate the perception of pediatric medical residents regarding Pediatric Palliative Care and to assess the impact of an educational intervention on their conceptual understanding.MethodsA prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 2026 at the Regional Hospital of Presidente Prudente. A structured questionnaire was applied to pediatric residents before and after two educational sessions addressing Pediatric Palliative Care principles. Comparative analysis was performed to assess changes in knowledge and perception.ResultsThe intervention resulted in a significant increase in correct identification of the WHO definition of Palliative Care, improved recognition of the coexistence of curative and palliative treatments, and enhanced understanding of eligibility criteria. Additionally, there was a marked reduction in the exclusive association of palliative care with end- of-life and greater acknowledgment of its role in quality of life and holistic care.ConclusionThe educational intervention effectively expanded knowledge and reshaped conceptual understanding among pediatric residents, highlighting the importance of structured integration of Pediatric Palliative Care into medical training and clinical practice.
Downloads
References
BONFIM, Edileide Dias; GUEDES, Bruna Luizy dos Santos. Cuidados paliativos: desafios do enfermeiro na assistência de pacientes pediátricos. Revista JRG de Estudos Acadêmicos, São Paulo, v. 6, n. 13, p. 1137–1146, 2023. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8087042. Disponível em: https://revistajrg.com/index.php/jrg/article/view/661. Acesso em: 18 fev. 2026.
FERREIRA, Esther Angélica Luiz; SAITO, Leandro; SARRACINI, Maycon Rodrigo; et al. Pediatric palliative care in Brazil: reflections on end of life based on geographic mapping. Research in Health Services & Regions, v. 3, art. 18, 2024. DOI: 10.1007/s43999-024-00054-w. Disponível em: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43999-024-00054-w. Acesso em: 18 fev. 2026.
IGLESIAS, S. B. O.; OLIVEIRA, N. F. Cuidados paliativos pediátricos: o que são e qual sua importância? Cuidando da criança em todos os momentos. Departamento Científico de Medicina da Dor e Cuidados Paliativos, n. 01, p. 01-09, 2017.
LUNA, Luziane Lais Sabino Silva; DUARTE, Maria do Carmo Menezes Bezerra; LEVY, Sheyla Suelle dos Santos; LIMA, Luciana Santana. Clinical characteristics and gaps in palliative care among tracheostomized children: a retrospective observational study. Jornal de Pediatria, Rio de Janeiro, v. 101, n. 1, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2025.101480. Disponível em: https://www.jped.com.br/en-clinical-characteristics-gaps-in-palliative-articulo- S0021755725001688. Acesso em: 18 fev. 2026.
NASCIMENTO,A.C.E; ALBERICI, A.S.R; BORGES, G.A; GOMES, G.L.R.O; VLIEGER, P.W.C. A percepção e o papel do médico no contexto de cuidados paliativos pediátricos. Repositório Universidade Evangélica de Goiás, 2021. Disponível em: http://repositorio.aee.edu.br/jspui/handle/aee/19096
NELLI, E. M. Z. et al. O papel do médico nos cuidados paliativos: The physician's role in palliative care. Brazilian Journal of Health Review, v. 5, n. 4, p. 14021-14039, 2022. Disponível em: https://ojs.brazilianjournals.com.br/ojs/index.php/BJHR/article/view/51049. Acesso em: 10 jan. 2023.
OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, F. F. d.; CESTARI, V. R. F.; LINARD, C. F. B. M. Educação em cuidados paliativos e de fim de vida na formação médica em pediatria: protocolo de revisão de escopo. Research, Society and Development, v. 11, n. 11, p. e328111133816-e328111133816, 2022. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/33816. Acesso em: 10 jan. 2023.
OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, Francisco Ferreira de; CESTARI, Virna Ribeiro Feitosa; LINARD, Cybelle Façanha Barreto Medeiros. Educação em cuidados paliativos e de fim de vida na formação médica em pediatria: protocolo de revisão de escopo. Research, Society and Development, v. 11, n. 11, 2022. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v11i11.33816. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/33816. Acesso em: 18 fev. 2026.
SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE PEDIATRIA. Departamento Científico de Medicina da Dor e Cuidados Paliativos. Cuidados paliativos pediátricos: o que são e qual sua importância? Rio de Janeiro: SBP, 2021. Disponível em: https://www.sbp.com.br. Acesso em: 18 fev. 2026.
SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE PEDIATRIA. Departamento Científico de Medicina da Dor e Cuidados Paliativos. Documentos científicos. Rio de Janeiro: SBP, 2023. Disponível em: https://wordpress.sbp.com.br/departamentos/medicina-da-dor-e-cuidados-paliativos/documentos- cientificos/. Acesso em: 18 fev. 2026.
SOUSA, Ian Teixeira e; CRUZ, Cintia Tavares; SOARES, Leonardo Cavadas da Costa; et al. End- of-life care in Brazilian Pediatric Intensive Care Units. Jornal de Pediatria, Rio de Janeiro, v. 99, n. 4, p. 341–347, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2023.02.003. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36963435/. Acesso em: 18 fev. 2026.
TEIXEIRA, D. G. S. et al. Os profissionais de saúde e cuidados paliativos em pediatria: revisão bibliográfica. Research, Society and Development, v. 12, n. 6, p. e13912642111-e13912642111, 2023. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/42111. Acesso em: 21 jan. 2023.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. Palliative care for children. Geneva: WHO, 2020. Disponível em: https://www.who.int. Acesso em: 18 fev. 2026.
