Deutsches Arzteblatt international
Clinical Practice Guideline: Palliative Care for Children and Adolescents With Cancer
By Führer M, Bäumler P, Classen CF and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
Despite recent advances in pediatric oncology, 15% of children and adolescents with cancer in Germany (approx. 350 per year) die of their disease. Even when the unfavorable prognosis is clear early on, patients often do not receive palliative care until shortly before death when the symptom burden is high. This causes unnecessary distress for everyone involved.
Methods
Systematic searches for pertinent guidelines and scientific publications up to 2023/2024 were carried out in accordance with the AWMF specifications for S3-level clinical practice guidelines. Of the 17 821 primary publications screened (databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane), 66 were used as sources of evidence for the guideline recommendations. Individual recommendations from three adult guidelines were also adopted after appropriate adjustment for the special situation and needs of children and adolescents.