Perspective of Mothers of Children with Malignancies of the Quality of Palliative Care

Abstract

This study aims to (1) identify the factors that can predict the quality of palliative care, (2) investigate the differences in the quality of palliative care between the groups of child’s gender and mothers’ level of education. A descriptive predictive correlational design was used to guide this study which was conducted in The Pediatric Welfare Teaching Hospital and Child’s Central Teaching Hospital, Baghdad City. The study included a convenience sample of 165 mothers of children with malignancies. The study instrument encompasses The Perspective of the Quality of Palliative Care Scale. The study results display that palliative care is good from the perspectives of most mothers.

There are statistically significant differences in the dimensions of caregiver’s listening skills;

psychosocial and spiritual dimensions, and overall palliative care between child’s gender groups.

There is a statistically significant difference in the psychosocial and spiritual dimensions among mothers’ level of education groups. Additionally, mothers of female children seem seek more palliative care pertinent to listening skills, psychosocial dimension, and overall palliative care. The student researcher recommends that there is a pressing need by the Iraqi Ministry of Health to devote greater health efforts with the goal developing the palliative care, particularly in the critical care units in pediatric hospitals.