With the continuing growth of children's palliative care, there is an increasing need to develop effective training for health care professionals. Bereaved parents have participated in the training of health care professionals in an educational curriculum from the Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care (IPPC) but their experience as educators has not been studied before. Nine bereaved parents and 11 health care professionals took part in this research. Major themes found were a sense of purpose for the parents and benefits and challenges for both parents and professionals. The experience for parents contributed to their meaning-making for both their children's lives and deaths. Parents and professionals identified mutual learning and increased mutual understanding, although for some health professionals it was felt that the presence of parents limited the openness of discussion. In conclusion, more benefits than burdens were experienced by both parents and health care professionals from participating in the training.
Adams, G., Green, A., Towe, S. & Huett, A. 2013. Bereaved caregivers as educators in pediatric palliative care: their experiences and impact. Journal of Palliative Medicine 16 (6) p 609-612.
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