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Description
RESEARCH
Purpose:
Pediatric deaths in hospitals profoundly affect both staff and families, underscoring the need for clear decedent care processes and specialized training to navigate emotional and procedural challenges. Cooling rooms and reflection spaces, which provide families with more time for memory-making and help ease the emotional burden of separation, have been shown to offer significant support. However, these facilities are less common in the U.S., highlighting the necessity for further research in this area. The purpose of this study was to explore the decedent care (DC) practices in pediatric hospitals in the United States.
Methods:
Participants were recruited via forwarded emails and Listservs utilizing a survey design. Survey data collected including demographic details such as hospital name, type, location, pediatric bed count, and the role of the survey respondent. Additional data on decedent room features, family and DC practices, staff and family support, staff training, and existing policies or guidelines was also collected.
Results:
This study surveyed pediatric hospitals (N=25) to assess the availability and use of decedent rooms. The findings revealed that 28% of these hospitals had decedent rooms. Of these, 57% exclusively offered post-mortem care, while 43% also provided end-of-life care. Decedent care (DC) was multidisciplinary, encompassing support for both staff and families. Various design and environmental modifications were implemented across hospitals. Staff training and its frequency varied by hospital (72%), as did the resources and support available to staff. Formal policies and procedures for decedent care were established in 76% of hospitals.
Discussion:
The study revealed significant variations in pediatric decedent care practices across the United States. These findings highlight the need for improved education for staff who care for deceased children and their families.
Implications:
The study's findings will inform the enhancement of decedent care practices and design options for pediatric hospitals. Future research should prioritize identifying optimal methods to support hospital systems and their staff in delivering compassionate care to decedents and their families.
Publication Date
9-27-2024
Keywords
Research
Disciplines
Pediatric Nursing
Recommended Citation
Garcia, Mayra; McCarthy, Kim; Samuel, Kiele; Ellis, Kathleen; Jones, Lisa; Cavender, Joe Don; Campbell, Ryan; Reynolds, Chelsea; Leos, Jesse; and Chen, Paulin, "Exploration of Decedent Care Practices Among Pediatric Hospitals in the United States" (2024). 2024. 2.
https://scholarlycollection.childrens.com/nursing-anf2024/2
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
