Collaborative Communication in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Foundation for Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
Section snippets
Part I: collaborative communication
What does the phrase “collaborative communication” aim to convey? The wide-ranging concept of communication indicates “the imparting or exchanging of information or news” [22]. Modifying this general concept is the idea that collaboration speaks to a particular type of communication, one that aims to be “produced or conducted by two or more parties working together” [22].
Collaborative communication encapsulates both the exchange of information and the nature of the collaborative relationship
Part II: a general overview of pediatric palliative care
The challenges—and opportunities—of collaborative communication are best understood when situated in the broader context of palliative care, including the core tasks of palliative care, the ways in which the experiences of “dying” unfold for children with life-threatening conditions, and how our medical system distinguishes palliative care from other modes of care.
Part III: the psychology of collaborative communication
Beyond working to understand how each of us view the concepts of pediatric palliative care, our ability to communicate collaboratively can be advanced if we also attend to our own habits of thought, emotions, and ways in which we handle interpersonal conflict. This section inspects this by exploring how our innate judgments and processes affect how we define situations and make decisions.
Part IV: three common tasks in pediatric palliative care
While the work of pediatric palliative care involves a myriad of tasks that require our best efforts at collaborative communication, the remainder of this article focuses on three common tasks: communicating bad news, reframing and reanchoring situations, and conducting family meetings.
Summary
Collaborative communication builds the foundation upon which pediatric palliative care of the highest possible quality can be created. While I hope that the material we have covered and the advice offered is helpful to all of us as we strive to work together better, there is still much to learn about how to improve our communication skills. Let us commit to advancing this area of medical care—through personal reflection and practice as well as rigorous research—so that in the future patients,
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