Decision-making experiences of health professionals in withdrawing treatment for children and young people: A qualitative study

Abdin, Shanara; Heath, Gemma; Neilson, Susan; Byron-Daniel, James; Hooper, Nic

Abstract

Objective: To explore factors that influence professionals in deciding whether to withdraw treatment from a child and how decision making is managed amongst professionals as an individual and as a team. Study Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of health professionals working at a UK Children's Hospital, with children with life-limiting illnesses whose treatment has been withdrawn. Data were transcribed verbatim, anonymized and analysed using a thematic framework method. Results: A total of 15 participants were interviewed. Five interrelated themes with associated subthemes were generated to help understand the experiences of health professionals in decision making on withdrawing a child's treatment: (1) understanding the child's best interests, (2) multidisciplinary approach, (3) external factors, (4) psychological well-being and (5) recommendations to support shared decision making. Conclusion: A shared decision-making approach should be adopted to support professionals, children and their families to make decisions collectively.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 31, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jan 6, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 14, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jan 5, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 7, 2023
• Journal: Child: Care, Health and Development
• Print ISSN: 0305-1862
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2214
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 48
• Issue: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12956
• Keywords: decision making, healthcare, professionals, treatment
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/8523104
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cch.12956