THE IMPORTANCE OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY AND ITS IMPACT ON FAMILIES: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Pediatric cancer remains one of the leading causes of disease-related mortality in childhood, imposing a significant physical, emotional, and social burden on patients and their families. Despite notable therapeutic advances, the early integration of palliative care into pediatric oncology is still limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, due to structural barriers and lack of specialized training among healthcare professionals. This study analyzed, through an integrative literature review, the relevance of palliative care in pediatric oncology and its impact on the quality of life of children with cancer and their caregivers. Searches were conducted in the PubMed and Virtual Health Library (BVS) databases using the descriptors “palliative,” “pediatric,” and “oncology,” combined with the Boolean operator AND. Complete articles in English, published between 2018 and 2025, with observational or randomized clinical designs, were included. From 4,078 publications identified, 34 met the eligibility criteria. The findings reveal that early implementation of palliative care improves pain and symptom control, strengthens family bonds, and enhances psychosocial well-being. Moreover, multidisciplinary interventions—such as resilience programs, psychological support, acceptance and commitment therapy, and integrative approaches like music therapy—showed positive outcomes. It is concluded that palliative care represents an essential and transformative component of pediatric oncology, embodying an ethical and scientific imperative that unites evidence, dignity, and compassion in the comprehensive care of children with cancer.