Telehealth acceptability for children, family, and adult hospice nurses when integrating the pediatric palliative inpatient provider during sequential rural home hospice visits

Meaghann S. Weaver, Jacob E. Robinson, Valerie K. Shostrom, Pamela S. Hinds

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Children in rural geographies are not universally able to access pediatric-trained palliative or hospice providers. Objective: Determine whether telehealth inclusion of a familiar pediatric palliative care provider during the first two home-based hospice visits was acceptable to children, families, and adult-trained home hospice nurses in rural settings. Design: Case series. Setting: Home hospice in rural Midwest. Participants: Patients <18 years of age enrolling in home hospice for end-of-life care. Measurements: The acceptability of telehealth inclusion of a hospital-based pediatric palliative care provider in home hospice visits to the family caregiver and home hospice nurse was measured using the Technology Acceptance Model Questionnaires with the inclusion of the child perspective when possible. Results: Fifteen patients mean age of seven years enrolled. Family caregiver included 11 mothers (73%), 2 grandmothers (13%), and 2 fathers (13%). Fifteen nurses from nine hospice agencies participated. Twelve families (80%) included additional relatives by telehealth modality. Home distance averaged 172 miles with mean eight hours saved by accessing telehealth encounter. Visit content was primarily caregiver support, quality of life, goals of care, symptom management, and medication review. Telehealth acceptability improved between time points and was higher in family caregivers (4.3-4.9 on 5-point scale; p = 0.001) than hospice nurses (3.2-3.8 on 5-point scale; p = 0.05). All children able to self-report stated a "like" for telehealth, citing six reasons such as "being remembered" and "medical knowledge and care planning." Conclusions: Pediatric palliative telehealth visits partnered with in-person hospice nurse offer acceptable access to services, while extending support.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)641-649
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Palliative Medicine
Volume23
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2020

Keywords

  • hospice
  • pediatric palliative care
  • rural
  • telehealth

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Nursing
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Telehealth acceptability for children, family, and adult hospice nurses when integrating the pediatric palliative inpatient provider during sequential rural home hospice visits'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this