Physicians' decision‐making when managing pediatric patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness: A qualitative study. (26th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merlo, Federica; Malacrida, Roberto; Hurst, Samia; Bassetti, Claudio L. A.; Albanese, Emiliano; Fadda, Marta
• Is Part Of: European journal of neurology. Volume 29:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 2181
• Page End: 2191
• Publication Date: 2022-04-26
• Subjects: decision‐making -- ethics -- pediatrics -- physicians -- prolonged disorders of consciousness; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ene.15354
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-5101

Abstract

Abstract: Background and purpose: Advances in medicine have resulted in treatments that can extend the survival of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC) for several years. However, several diagnostic and prognostic uncertainties remain, particularly in the care of pediatric patients. In the absence of international guidelines, we aimed to explore physicians' decision‐making when managing pediatric patients with PDOC. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using semistructured, individual interviews and employed an inductive thematic analytical approach to explore physicians' subjective experiences and decision‐making when managing pediatric patients with PDOC. We recruited a purposive sample of 19 Italian‐speaking physicians currently or previously employed in intensive care units or pediatric, internal medicine, or neurology departments in Switzerland. Results: Participants stated that making clinical decisions involving pediatric patients with PDOC is extremely challenging, because the decisional process requires finding a balance between several contending factors. We found that physicians experienced ambivalence in three domains of care (time, goals of care, and target of care), and that they were aware of the risk of self‐fulfilling prophecies for both prognosis and main clinical outcomes. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that experienced clinicians acknowledge the complex nature and challenge of clinical decision‐making in the care of pediatric patients with PDOC. More research is warranted to improve and expand existing guidelines aimed at assisting and facilitating clinical and ethical decision‐making, and improving physicians' awareness of the factors affecting their decisions when dealing with patients with PDOC. Abstract : Experienced clinicians acknowledged the complex nature and challenge of clinical decision‐making in the care of pediatric patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness, due to the need to find a balance between several contending factors. They experienced ambivalence in three domains of care (time, goals, and target of care), and were aware of the risk of self‐fulfilling prophecies for both prognosis and main clinical outcomes.