Meaning-making process in families of children receiving paediatric palliative care: a doctoral project presentation

Abstract

In recent years, paediatric palliative care in the Czech Republic has been undergoing dynamic developments in its clinical, educational, and research capacities. These developments stem from efforts to address the complex physical, psychosocial, and ethical needs of children with serious illnesses and their families. A crucial factor in this process is also the support and encouragement of a new generation of researchers, including doctoral students, who, through their projects, contribute new insights to clinical practice.

The present doctoral project, conducted at the Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London, aims to deepen our understanding of the experiences of children and families through the concept of “meaning making” and its role in paediatric palliative care. This text introduces the domains of meaning making, specifically the existential, cognitive, future-oriented, and relational domains, and explains their significance for adapting to a child’s serious illness.