Exploring how 'wish-granting' interventions foster wellbeing for children with life-threatening health conditions and their families: A qualitative study.
Gemma Heath, Cassandra Screti, Rebecca Knibb
PMID 39329202WHAT IT FOUND
Families and professionals described wish-granting as creating joy, anticipation, and shared memories that helped children with life-threatening conditions cope with treatment and see new possibilities.
It reports experiences, not proof the intervention works.
Key findings
01Families described learning their child's wish would be granted as producing intense joy, excitement, and gratitude.
02After wishes, some families reported seeking opportunities for mobility or travel that they had previously avoided.
03Parents and professionals described wishes helping distract children during treatment and supporting engagement with medication.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study cannot show that wishes caused the reported changes because it only asked people about their experiences. Very ill children, children who could not take part in interviews, siblings, and families whose child died after a wish were not included, so their experiences are missing. Most parents interviewed were mothers, so fathers' views are underrepresented. Families who had a positive wish experience may have been more likely to take part, so less positive experiences may be missing.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Funding was provided by The Walt Disney Company EMEA via Make-A-Wish UK, and the charity identified eligible participants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the reported improvements in mood, treatment engagement, or family life as proof that wish-granting causes them. The study asked people about their experiences, and it did not test wishes against another condition or measure clinical outcomes. Families with positive experiences may also have been more likely to take part.