Distress Screening and Pediatric Palliative Care Referral for Patients with Cancer
In a study published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, researchers examined whether patient and caregiver distress is associated with pediatric palliative care (PPC) referral, with the goal of understanding whether distress screening tools could help identify families who would benefit from earlier access. They found that pediatric patients who reported high distress had higher odds of PPC referral, but caregiver distress scores were not associated with referral. The authors conclude that high patient distress scores could serve as a screening criterion for PPC referral, and that routine distress screening and standardized early referral practices can reduce bias and provide more equitable access to the benefits of PPC.