My PhD focuses on updating the evidence-based guideline on palliative care for children. The aim of this guideline is to improve care for children from 0 to 18 years with a life-threatening or life-limiting disease from the beginning of the disease process to end of life. This is done through national and multi-disciplinary collaboration with experts in the area of palliative care.
The update of the guideline on palliative care for children focuses on multiple aspects of palliative care such as diagnosis and treatment of symptoms, psychosocial care, decision making, advance care planning and organization of care.
Following the method of evidence-based guideline development, a systematic literature search is conducted to provide an updated overview of the available evidence on all aspects on palliative care for children and identify gaps in knowledge. Based on the conclusions of evidence, recommendations will be formulated to improve palliative care for children and quality of care.
Supervisor(s): Erna Michiels, Renée Mulder, Leontien Kremer, Eduard Verhagen