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Qualitative Health Research
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*Family Issues
*Palliative Care
*Talking With Your Doctor
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Professional Carers' Experiences of Providing a Pediatric Palliative Care Service in Ireland

Jean Clarke

Dublin City University

Suzanne Quin

University College Dublin

In this article the authors present findings on professional carers' experience of providing pediatric palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions. For this qualitative study, part of a national pediatric palliative care needs analysis, the authors engaged in 15 focus group interviews and drew on the responses of open-ended questions to give voice to the experiences of professional carers and to situate the humanity of their caring reality. This humanity is articulated through three themes: clarity of definition and complexity of engagement, seeking to deliver a palliative care service, and the emotional cost of providing palliative care. Further analysis of these themes points to a work-life experience of skilled and emotional engagement with children, and their parents, in complex processes of caregiving and decision making. Pediatric palliative care occurs in an environment where parents shoulder a large burden of the care and professionals find themselves working in underresourced services.

Key Words: pediatric palliative care • life-limiting conditions • children • parents • professional carers

Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 17, No. 9, 1219-1231 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1049732307308316
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