Publication
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Digital Storytelling Intervention in Paediatric Palliative Care: A Small-Scale Pilot Study in Ireland
Safarifard R, Molati A, Kiernan G, Corcoran Y, Courtney E, Mitchell J, Akard T, Lambert V · SSRN · 2026
Background Children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families face significant psychosocial challenges. While digital storytelling is an established memory-making intervention in the U.S., its cultural adaptation and implementation within Irish paediatric palliative care remains unexplored.PurposeThis pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally adapted digital storytelling intervention, integrated with Barretstown Children’s Charity’s therapeutic recreation model, for families receiving community-based paediatric palliative care in Ireland.MethodsUsing a multi-perspective design, five families (children aged 5–16) co-created multimedia legacy videos with trained facilitators. Feasibility was assessed via recruitment, retention, fidelity, and delivery logistics. Acceptability was explored through semi-structured interviews with parents (n=9; conducted 1-2 weeks post-intervention and after video receipt) and delivery facilitators (n=11; conducted after each case session). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics; qualitative data underwent reflexive thematic analysis mapped to the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.ResultsHigh feasibility and retention were observed; all five families completed the intervention, and 100% of legacy videos were delivered. Home-based delivery supported relaxed, child-led participation. Parents identified digital storytelling as a joyful, life-affirming experience that fostered family connection. Staff reported strong alignment with Barretstown’s strengths-based ethos, though time-intensive video-editing was a primary logistical constraint.ConclusionsA culturally adapted digital storytelling intervention is both feasible and acceptable within the Irish paediatric palliative care context, offering significant emotional value to families.ImplicationsThese findings provide foundational evidence to support the integration and larger-scale evaluation of digital storytelling as a family-centred psychosocial intervention in community-based palliative services.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.