A blog by by Stephanie Sivell, Research Associate at the Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Centre, Cardiff highlights the lack of experience in caring for young people with life-limiting conditions that is a concern for adult specialist palliative care service providers.
The research maintains that now many young people with a terminal illness are living into their mid-twenties and beyond as a result of medical advances. These young people have to transition into adult services, including adult specialist palliative care. However, their needs are often complex and unfamiliar to adult services, which leads to them often going unmet.
The study aimed to collect the views of professionals with expertise in caring for young people with life-limiting conditions which would help develop an educational package to ensure adult specialist palliative care teams have the necessary skills. A survey was used to collate suggestions for the format, delivery and content of an education package.
This study was published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.
You can read the full blog post on the Marie Curie Cancer Care website here
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