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Easing Existential Distress in Pediatric Cancer Care

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Palliative Care in Pediatric Oncology

Part of the book series: Pediatric Oncology ((PEDIATRICO))

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Abstract

Children with serious illnesses may have special needs that are not strictly clinical in nature and that are not always easily discerned. The capacity to detect and respond to this type of need becomes an increasingly important focus in palliative care. Spiritual care falls within this sphere of interest, for both the child with an illness and their family. In the care of children with advanced cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, spiritual care providers partner with families as they navigate a life-threatening illness, offering empathy, spiritual companionship, and guidance in balancing personal beliefs, values, and medical decision-making.

This chapter will explore the history and study of spiritual care of children with life-threatening illnesses and their families and present practical approaches for spiritual screening and intervention, as well as mechanisms for enhancing the infrastructure within healthcare settings to promote exemplary spiritual care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Jennifer Currin-McCulloch

  2. Cappellania Ospedaliera, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Tullio Proserpio

  3. Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA

    Tullio Proserpio

  4. SC Pediatria, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Milan, Italy

    Marta Podda

  5. SS Psicologia, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Milan, Italy

    Carlo Alfredo Clerici

  6. Dipartimento di Oncologia e Ematologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Carlo Alfredo Clerici

Authors
  1. Jennifer Currin-McCulloch
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  2. Tullio Proserpio
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  3. Marta Podda
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  4. Carlo Alfredo Clerici
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Currin-McCulloch .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosocial Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Joanne Wolfe

  2. School of Social Work, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA

    Barbara L. Jones

  3. Department of Caring Sciences, Palliative Research Centre, Stockholm, Sweden

    Ulrika Kreicbergs

  4. Hospital san Gerardo, University of Milano, Monza, Italy

    Momcilo Jankovic

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Currin-McCulloch, J., Proserpio, T., Podda, M., Clerici, C.A. (2018). Easing Existential Distress in Pediatric Cancer Care. In: Wolfe, J., Jones, B., Kreicbergs, U., Jankovic, M. (eds) Palliative Care in Pediatric Oncology. Pediatric Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61391-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61391-8_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-61390-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61391-8

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