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van Velsen L, Schokking L, Siderakis E, Knospe GM, Brandl L, Mooser B, Madörin S, Jacinto S, Gouveia A, Brodbeck J. Development of an online service for coping with spousal loss by means of human-centered and stakeholder-inclusive design: the case of LEAVES. DEATH STUDIES 2024; 48:187-196. [PMID: 37102731 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2023.2203680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
To support older mourners after the loss of their partner, LEAVES, an online self-help service that delivers the LIVIA spousal bereavement intervention, was developed. It integrates an embodied conversational agent and an initial risk assessment. Based on an iterative, human-centered, and stakeholder inclusive approach, interviews with older mourners and focus groups with stakeholders were conducted to understand their perspective on grief and on using LEAVES. Subsequently, the resulting technology and service model were evaluated by means of interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. While digital literacy remains a challenge, LEAVES shows promise of being supportive to the targeted end-users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lex van Velsen
- eHealth group, Roessingh Research and Development, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Lotte Schokking
- National Foundation for the Elderly, Amersfoort, Netherlands
| | - Eva Siderakis
- National Foundation for the Elderly, Amersfoort, Netherlands
| | | | - Lena Brandl
- eHealth group, Roessingh Research and Development, Enschede, Netherlands
- Department of Human Media Interaction, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Bettina Mooser
- Department for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Madörin
- School of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland
| | - Sofia Jacinto
- Department for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- School of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland
- Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, CIS-Iscte, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Afonso Gouveia
- Psychiatric Department at The Health Unit of Baixo Alentejo, Beja, Portugal
| | - Jeannette Brodbeck
- Department for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- School of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland
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MacArthur ND, Kirby E, Mowll J. Bereavement affinities: A qualitative study of lived experiences of grief and loss. DEATH STUDIES 2023; 47:836-846. [PMID: 36327234 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2022.2135044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Attending to bereaved peoples' lived experiences offers considerable potential for better understanding how to improve support following loss. In-depth interviews (n = 36) and solicited diaries (n = 23) were conducted with bereaved adults following a death in palliative or residential aged care. A constructivist grounded theory approach guided data analysis, through which three themes were derived: making sense of the lived experience of bereavement; relationships in bereavement; and bereavement over time. The results reveal the nuances within everyday experiences of bereavement, in particular the multiplicity of affinities, present or lacking, in social support and recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D MacArthur
- Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emma Kirby
- Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jane Mowll
- School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Tureluren E, Claes L, Andriessen K. Help-seeking behavior in bereaved university and college students: Associations with grief, mental health distress, and personal growth. Front Psychol 2022; 13:963839. [PMID: 35992443 PMCID: PMC9381721 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.963839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many students have experienced the death of a loved one, which increases their risk of grief and mental health problems. Formal and social support can contribute to better coping skills and personal growth in bereaved students. The purpose of this study was to examine the support that students received or wanted to receive and its relation to students’ mental health. We also looked at students’ needs when receiving support and barriers in seeking formal and social support. Participants (N = 666) completed an online survey consisting of questions about their sociodemographic characteristics, the support they received or wanted to receive, and support needs and barriers in seeking support. The survey also included three scales assessing grief, mental health distress, and personal growth. First, we analyzed the data descriptively. Next, we used MANCOVA to examine whether students who did or did not receive or wanted more support differed in terms of their grief, mental health distress, or personal growth. About 30% of students needed more support and experienced more grief and mental health distress than students who had their support needs met. Students who received support experienced more personal growth and grief than students who did not receive support. Students indicated a need for feeling acknowledged and safe. Feeling like a burden to others and perceiving their problems as not serious enough to warrant support were common barriers to seeking support. Our results indicate that support should be provided actively to students after the death of a loved one, and support being available on an ongoing basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Tureluren
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurence Claes
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Karl Andriessen
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Karl Andriessen,
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Beaunoyer E, Guitton A, Guitton MJ. Online Presence of the Funeral Industry: The Example of the Quebec Federation of Funeral Cooperatives. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2022:302228221111936. [PMID: 35766969 DOI: 10.1177/00302228221111936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The digitalization of modern societies has offered new tools for funeral industries to reach the communities they serve, ranging from using technologies in funeral planning, in commemoration of the dead, or to support the bereaved. The COVID-19 pandemic only pushed this need for online presence of the funeral industries further. We explore the digitalization of funeral industries through the example of Quebec (Canada), where many funeral institutions are regrouped under a federation of funeral cooperatives. We analyze how this influences the delivery of funeral services and allows the development of common services answering various needs of the population (e.g., a funding program for youth funerals, an ecological memorialization program, online grief support). Finally, we discuss how the federation's online presence contributes to its mission, and more largely whether it changes the perception of the industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Beaunoyer
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Alexandre Guitton
- Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS, Mines de Saint-Etienne, Clermont-Auvergne-INP, LIMOS, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Matthieu J Guitton
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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Loughnan SA, Boyle FM, Ellwood D, Crocker S, Lancaster A, Astell C, Dean J, Horey D, Callander E, Jackson C, Shand A, Flenady V. Living with Loss: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating an internet-based perinatal bereavement program for parents following stillbirth and neonatal death. Trials 2022; 23:464. [PMID: 35668502 PMCID: PMC9167910 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06363-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stillbirth and neonatal death are devastating pregnancy outcomes with long-lasting psychosocial consequences for parents and families, and wide-ranging economic impacts on health systems and society. It is essential that parents and families have access to appropriate support, yet services are often limited. Internet-based programs may provide another option of psychosocial support for parents following the death of a baby. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of a self-guided internet-based perinatal bereavement support program "Living with Loss" (LWL) in reducing psychological distress and improving the wellbeing of parents following stillbirth or neonatal death. METHODS This trial is a two-arm parallel group randomized controlled trial comparing the intervention arm (LWL) with a care as usual control arm (CAU). We anticipate recruiting 150 women and men across Australia who have experienced a stillbirth or neonatal death in the past 2 years. Participants randomized to the LWL group will receive the six-module internet-based program over 8 weeks including automated email notifications and reminders. Baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up assessments will be conducted to assess primary and secondary outcomes for both arms. The primary outcome will be the change in Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) scores from baseline to 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include perinatal grief, anxiety, depression, quality of life, program satisfaction and acceptability, and cost-effectiveness. Analysis will use intention-to-treat linear mixed models to examine psychological distress symptom scores at 3-month follow-up. Subgroup analyses by severity of symptoms at baseline will be undertaken. DISCUSSION The LWL program aims to provide an evidence-based accessible and flexible support option for bereaved parents following stillbirth or neonatal death. This may be particularly useful for parents and healthcare professionals residing in rural regions where services and supports are limited. This RCT seeks to provide evidence of the efficacy, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of the LWL program and contribute to our understanding of the role digital services may play in addressing the gap in the availability of specific bereavement support resources for parents following the death of a baby, particularly for men. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12621000631808 . Registered prospectively on 27 May 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan A Loughnan
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, Level 3 Aubigny Place, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Frances M Boyle
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, Level 3 Aubigny Place, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, 80 Meiers Rd, Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia
| | - David Ellwood
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, Level 3 Aubigny Place, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Medicine, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Drive, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Sara Crocker
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, Level 3 Aubigny Place, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ann Lancaster
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, Level 3 Aubigny Place, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Chrissie Astell
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, Level 3 Aubigny Place, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Julie Dean
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, Level 3 Aubigny Place, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, 80 Meiers Rd, Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia
| | - Dell Horey
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, Level 3 Aubigny Place, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,La Trobe University, Plenty Rd &, Kingsbury Dr, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Emily Callander
- Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Antonia Shand
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Vicki Flenady
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, Level 3 Aubigny Place, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Beaunoyer E, Guitton MJ. Cyberthanathology: Death and beyond in the digital age. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Klarare A, Carlsson T, Mattsson E. Belonging to a community of care: Mothers' experiences of online peer support groups for parents having lost a child with congenital heart defects. DEATH STUDIES 2020; 46:1741-1749. [PMID: 33252318 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1850548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim was to study mothers' experiences of online peer support groups after the death of a child. Participants (N = 8) were recruited through a newsletter for the Swedish association for families/children with heart defects, and two closed support groups on Facebook (900 and 100 members) and interviewed by telephone. Transcripts were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. The groups were available around the clock, regardless of support need, and mothers joined both to receive and provide support. Participation in online peer support groups may provide a sense of belonging to a caring community and serve as a valuable complement to healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Klarare
- Clinical psychology in healthcare, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tommy Carlsson
- Clinical psychology in healthcare, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- The Swedish Red Cross University College, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Mattsson
- Clinical psychology in healthcare, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, Stockholm, Sweden
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