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Communication and support from health-care professionals to families, with dependent children, following the diagnosis of parental life-limiting illness : a systematic review

Fearnley, Rachel; Boland, Jason W.

Authors

Rachel Fearnley

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Dr Jason Boland J.Boland@hull.ac.uk
Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Palliative Medicine



Abstract

Background: Communication between parents and their children about parental life-limiting illness is stressful. Parents want support from health-care professionals; however, the extent of this support is not known. Awareness of family’s needs would help ensure appropriate support. Aim: To find the current literature exploring (1) how parents with a life-limiting illness, who have dependent children, perceive health-care professionals’ communication with them about the illness, diagnosis and treatments, including how social, practical and emotional support is offered to them and (2) how this contributes to the parents’ feelings of supporting their children. Design: A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis. Data sources: Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ASSIA ProQuest were searched in November 2015 for studies assessing communication between health-care professionals and parents about how to talk with their children about the parent’s illness. Results: There were 1342 records identified, five qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria (55 ill parents, 11 spouses/carers, 26 children and 16 health-care professionals). Parents wanted information from health-care professionals about how to talk to their children about the illness; this was not routinely offered. Children also want to talk with a health-care professional about their parents’ illness. Health-care professionals are concerned that conversations with parents and their children will be too difficult and time-consuming. Conclusion: Parents with a life-limiting illness want support from their health-care professionals about how to communicate with their children about the illness. Their children look to health-care professionals for information about their parent’s illness. Health-care professionals, have an important role but appear reluctant to address these concerns because of fears of insufficient time and expertise.

Citation

Fearnley, R., & Boland, J. W. (2017). Communication and support from health-care professionals to families, with dependent children, following the diagnosis of parental life-limiting illness : a systematic review. Palliative medicine, 31(3), 212-222. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216316655736

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 27, 2016
Online Publication Date Jul 6, 2016
Publication Date 2017-03
Deposit Date Jul 8, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Palliative medicine
Print ISSN 0269-2163
Electronic ISSN 1477-030X
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 31
Issue 3
Pages 212-222
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216316655736
Keywords Health-care professionals; Parental life-limiting illness; Children; Communication
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/440786
Publisher URL http://pmj.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/07/06/0269216316655736.abstract
Additional Information This is a copy of an open access article published in Palliative medicine, 2017, v.31, issue 3.

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