Experiences of Pediatric Palliative Care Among Bereaved Parents Who Lost a Child With Leukemia in South Korea

Abstract

Pediatric palliative care was introduced in South Korea in 2018, with an increased need for care of children with life-limiting conditions, such as leukemia. However, the perspective of parents, who are the primary caregivers, regarding pediatric palliative care has not been explored. This study aimed to describe the pediatric palliative care–related experiences of parents who had lost a child to leukemia to better understand their needs and care outcomes. Ten mothers of children who received pediatric palliative care were recruited. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted. Phenomenology was applied to elucidate parents' experiences during their children's illness and after bereavement. From 179 main statements and 46 meaningful units, 22 themes were derived and grouped into 11 theme clusters and 4 categories. The participants described that the pediatric palliative care team had an indispensable role in providing emotional support to them and their children; this support continued even after the child's death. In addition, the participants were satisfied with their choice to receive pediatric palliative care and hoped that more regions could benefit from the services. The study findings could contribute to advances and the popularization of pediatric palliative care in South Korea.