THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL SUBSTANTIATION OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN PEDIATRICS

The aim of the study is to study theoretical and practical basics of organizing specialized palliative pediatric service while taking into consideration the need for rendering complex medical-social help to children at the terminal stage of a disease and their parents. Patients and study methods. The study was conducted using the methods of theoretical literature analysis, comparison, generalization, observation, interview and polls. 252 children with severe, life-threatening diseases, and 368 parents of such children took part at the empirical stage. Results. It was proved that palliative help should start as soon as the diagnosis (presupposing untimely death risk) is set and may continue throughout the disease, in the moment of death and after it. Palliative help may most efficiently be rendered at healthcare institutions as they have all the necessary conditions. Conclusions. The following were defined as the main areas of psychological help: pedagogical and psychological work with the child to create a maximally comfortable and emotionally developing environment; psychological work with relatives to preserve their health and personal potential and prevent family breakdown.

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