Instruments to Measure Outcomes in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT:
Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is intended to promote children’s quality of life by using a family-centered approach. However, the measurement of this multidimensional outcome remains challenging.

OBJECTIVE:
To review the instruments used to assess the impact of PPC interventions.

DATA SOURCES:
Five databases (Embase, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, PsychInfo, Medline) were searched.

STUDY SELECTION:
Inclusion criteria were as follows: definition of PPC used; patients aged 0 to 18 years; diseases listed in the directory of life-limiting diseases; results based on empirical data; and combined descriptions of a PPC intervention, its outcomes, and a measurement instrument.

DATA EXTRACTION:
Full-text articles were assessed and data were extracted by 2 independent researchers, and each discrepancy was resolved through consensus. The quality of the studies was assessed by using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers From a Variety of Fields checklist.

RESULTS:
Nineteen of 2150 articles met the eligibility criteria. Researchers in 15 used quantitative methods, and 9 were of moderate quality. Multidimensional outcomes included health-related quality of life, spiritual well-being, satisfaction with care and/or communication, perceived social support, and family involvement in treatment or place-of-care preferences. PPC interventions ranged from home-based to hospital and respite care. Only 15 instruments (of 23 reported) revealed some psychometric properties, and only 5 included patient-reported (child) outcome measures.

LIMITATIONS:
We had no access to the developmental process of the instruments used to present the underlying concepts that were underpinning the constructs.

CONCLUSIONS:
Data on the psychometric properties of instruments used to assess the impact of PPC interventions were scarce. Children are not systematically involved in reporting outcomes.