• Rose Steele, Harvey Bosma, Meaghen Fletcher Johnston, Susan Cadell, Betty Davies, Hal Siden, and Lynn Straatman.
• School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario.
• J Palliat Care. 2008 Jan 1;24(4):229-39.

BackgroundPediatric palliative care is increasingly recognized to be a specialized type of care requiring specific skills and knowledge, yet, as found in several countries, there is little available research evidence on which to base care.ObjectivesThe goal of the project was to achieve consensus among palliative care practitioners and researchers regarding the identification of pertinent lines of research.MethodA Delphi technique was used with an interdisciplinary panel (n = 14-16) of researchers and frontline clinicians in pediatric palliative care in Canada.ResultsFour priority research questions were identified: What matters most for patients and parents receiving pediatric palliative services? What are the bereavement needs of families in pediatric palliative care? What are the best practice standards in pain and symptom management? What are effective strategies to alleviate suffering at the end of life?ConclusionsThese identified priorities will provide guidance and direction for research efforts in Canada, and may prove useful in providing optimal care to patients and families in pediatric palliative care.

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