Pediatric palliative care for youth with HIV/AIDS: Systematic review of the literature

Authors

Megan L. Wilkins, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Ronald H. Dallas, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Kathleen E. Fanone, Children's National Medical Center
Maureen E. Lyon, George Washington UniversityFollow

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-29-2013

Journal

HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care

Volume

Volume 5

Inclusive Pages

165-179

Abstract

Improvement in treatment has led to decreased death in youth with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in developed countries. Despite this, youth with HIV are still at risk for increased mortality and morbidity compared with their uninfected counterparts. In developing countries, high numbers of youth die from acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related illnesses due to lack of access to consistent antiretroviral treatment. As a result, pediatric palliative care is a relevant topic for those providing care to youth with HIV. A systematic review was conducted to gather information regarding the status of the literature related to pediatric palliative care and medical decision-making for youth with HIV. The relevant literature published between January 2002 and June 2012 was identified through searches conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and PSYCInfo databases and a series of key words. Articles were reviewed by thematic analysis using the pillars of palliative care set out by the National Consensus Project. Twenty-one articles were retained after review and are summarized by theme. In general, few empirically based studies evaluating palliative care and medical decision-making in youth with HIV were identified. Articles identified focused primarily on physical aspects of care, with less attention paid to psychological, social, ethical, and cultural aspects of care. We recommend that future research focuses on broadening the evaluation of pediatric palliative care among youth with HIV by directly evaluating the psychological, social, ethical, and cultural aspects of care and investigating the needs of all involved stakeholders.

Comments

Reproduced with permission of Dove Press HIV/AIDS: Research and Palliative Care

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License

APA Citation

Wilkins, M.L., Dallas, R.H., Fanone, R.E., Lyon, M.E. (2013). Pediatric palliative care for youth with HIV/AIDS: systematic review of the literature. HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care, 5:165-179.

Peer Reviewed

1

Open Access

1