Introduction: Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of children requiring palliative care. The provision of pediatric palliative care (PPC) is thus critical, as it means improving the quality of life for children and their families. To accomplish this, the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Canada, has been using Computerized Ambulatory Drug Delivery (CADD) pumps in its Pediatric Palliative Care Service (PPCS).
Aim: Although the CADD pump had been used with children receiving palliative care for almost ten years at the IWK Health Centre, there was as yet no policy pertaining directly to it. Therefore, the health policy practicum was intended to develop a draft of the CADD pump policy for the PPCS at the IWK Health Centre that ensures the safety of patients and their families as well as the constancy and effectiveness of professional practice.
Methods: The Stage-Sequential Model was used as a guide for the health policy practicum. In the first stage, setting the policy agenda, the problem that prompted the policy development proposal was recognized and the stakeholders were identified and involved in the development process. In the second stage, policy formulation, qualitative methods were used to collect data, including a literature review, records and available data, and semi-structured and structured interviews with policy makers and stakeholders.
Results: The findings of the semi-structured interviews were coded into four themes: the benefits of CADD pump use; challenges inherent in the practice of the CADD pump; education about CADD pump operation; and the effects of the non-existence of a CADD pump policy. Findings concluded that the pump improves the quality of life for patients and their families, technical and practical issues might arise when using the pump, adequate education and training help in operating the device, and when guidelines and supports exist, the practice of using a CADD pump is easy to comply with. However, findings also indicated that infrequent use of the CADD pump challenges health care providers’ ability to maintain competency.
Conclusion: The advantages and disadvantages of following a conceptual model and a written form policy should be determined through understanding key issues and considerations that emerged during the process of policy development. In addition, strengths of clarifying professional roles and responsibilities in a formal document of policy/procedures should be established. Finally, pros and cons of certification as well as guidelines to be undertaken when a policy is developed and drafted are recommended.
Biography: Fatimah Alsaggaf, RN, MN received the bachelor degree from King Abdul-Aziz University, Saudi Arabia in 2008 and she also received the Master Degree in nursing in the stream of pediatric health policy, from the school of nursing, Dalhousie University, Canada in 2013. Her research interest is mainly in pediatric health. She worked as a registered nurse in pediatric department at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and research center in Saudi Arabia for 2 years. She also worked as a lecturer at Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences for 2 years. She is currently working as a lecturer in the school of nursing, maternity and child health department in King Abdul-Aziz University, Saudi Arabia.
