Affording opportunities to discuss deterioration in paediatric palliative care consultations: A conversation analytic study

Abstract

Background: Communication is fundamental for delivering quality care to children who have life-limiting conditions (such as cancer) and their families. There are few direct observational studies investigating how healthcare professionals communicate with patients and families in palliative care settings, and whichcommunicative practices facilitate optimal outcomes. Objectives: Discussing the potential deterioration of a child who has an advanced illness such as cancer has recognised benefits for future care, but can be challenging in a clinical context where uncertain illness trajectories are common. Existing research is restricted to indirect forms of evidence such as self-report data from clinicians and families. This study directly explores how discussions about deterioration are managed within actual paediatric palliative care consultations. Design/Method: Nine consultations were video recorded in an Australian paediatric palliative care service. Each consultation involved the same paediatric palliative care specialist. Conversation analysis was used to identify and explore recurrent ways in which discussions about deterioration came to be realised. Results: The study identified two communicative practices used by a paediatric palliative care specialist that afforded opportunities to discuss deterioration: 1) soliciting the family's agenda for the consultation; 2) initiating and maintaining topics where discussing deterioration is a relevant possibility. Across these different practices, a common feature was indirect initiation of discussions about deterioration. This approach made such discussions possible, but without mandating or even suggesting that such discussion must occur. Conclusion: Identifying the importance of discussing deterioration to plan for and enhance future care was made possible through direct observational analysis of actual paediatric palliative care consultations. These communicative practices balance the benefit of discussing deterioration against a recognised importance of allowing discussions to be directed by a child's family. This was achieved by creating opportunities for discussing deterioration, without making such discussions necessary.L6176878962017-08-11 <br />