Survey to Primary Care pediatricians on pediatric palliative care in a sanitary area of Madrid

Objective: to assess the knowledge among pediatricians of Primary Care in Area 5 of Madrid in Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) and their possible involvement in it.

Material and methods: descriptive and cross-sectional analysis using an anonymous self-completed survey, conducted between June and August 2009 among the pediatricians of public Primary Care settings in Area 5 of Madrid. Sample size 103 pediatricians covering all 50 Health Centers of the Area 5 of Madrid. The data were added to the database made for the purpose and were analyzed for variables in SPSS® for Windows®, version 16.

Conclusion: the involvement of the pediatricians in Area 5 of Madrid in the PPC is still insufficient. A significant effort from public health should be made to improve training in PPC in both the undergraduate and, especially, postgraduate. An overwhelming majority of pediatricians wish to learn and get involved in the care of the end of the lives of their children and in the support to their families.

Children are entitled to an optimal PPC regardless of the area or place of residence, and professionals have the duty of training and properly perform at this subject.