Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community
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J Child Health Care · Dec 2019
Physicians' standpoints on end-of-life decisions at the neonatal intensive care units in Jordan.
The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study is to explore pediatricians' and neonatologists' attitudes and standpoints on end-of-life (EOL) decision-making in neonates. Seventy-five physicians, employed fulltime to care for newborns in 23 hospitals in Jordan, completed internationally accepted questionnaires. Most physicians (75%) were supportive of using life-sustaining interventions, irrespective of the severity of the newborns' prognosis and the potential burden of the neonates' disabilities on their families. ⋯ Most physicians (77%) indicated that ethics committees should be involved in EOL decision-making based on requests from parents, physicians, or both. The results of this study indicate strong pro-life attitudes among the physicians whose role is to take care of infants in Jordan. The results also emphasize the need for (1) the creation of clear EOL-focused regulations and guidelines, (2) the establishment of special ethical committees to inform and assist healthcare providers' efforts during EOL care, and (3) raised awareness and competencies regarding EOL and ethical decision-making among physicians taking care of newborns in Jordan's intensive care units.
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J Child Health Care · Dec 2019
A qualitative study of nurses' perspectives of caring for children with intellectual disability and their families in a paediatric acute care setting.
Children with intellectual disability (ID) experience chronic and pervasive limitations across intellectual and adaptive functioning. They are also at risk of developing co-morbidities. They are likely to be hospitalised more frequently and for longer periods of time than other children. ⋯ This study highlights that navigating care delivery and relationships when working with young people with ID and their caregivers in an acute care setting is complex. Nursing children with ID in hospital requires sophisticated skills. To ensure quality healthcare for patients with ID, a range of strategies are proposed.