Actual and Preferred Location of Death for Children Known to a Palliative Care Service

Bibliographic Data

ID13629114
AuthorsVictoria Sun (UNSW Sydney), Sandra Coombs (0000-0002-6128-9528, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network), Nicole Armitage (0009-0000-0253-3503, UNSW Sydney), Meaghan Dowling (Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network), Tiina Jaaniste (0000-0002-1573-7844, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages302228251415138-302228251415138
Publication date2026-01-08
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00302228251415138
PMID41508628
OpenAlexW7119545005
LanguageEN
References cited46

This study aimed to establish the frequency and congruence between preferred and actual locations of expected pediatric deaths and to identify associated factors. A retrospective review of death review forms and medical records was conducted in two pediatric palliative care services in Sydney, Australia, involving 486 patients who died between January 2017 and May 2024). Hospital was the most common LOD (49.8%), then home (28.4%) and hospice (21.0%). At the last documented LOD conversation, 36.2% of families preferred home, 28.6% hospice and 26.4% hospital. Preferred LOD outcomes were achieved for 87.7% of families, although 21% who preferred a home death did not achieve this. Preferred and actual LODs of home were significantly associated with having a community palliative care referral and palliative care home visit. The findings highlight the importance of enabling families to plan for their child's LOD, and ensuring preferences are documented and communicated across health services

Hospice care · Medical record · Palliative care · Place of death · Referral · Retrospective cohort study · Service (business · Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life · Family Support in Illness · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

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