1
|
Vandersman P, Chakraborty A, Rowley G, Tieman J. The matter of grief, loss and bereavement in families of those living and dying in residential aged care setting: A systematic review. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 124:105473. [PMID: 38728822 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The grief, loss and bereavement needs of the families of those living and dying in residential aged care setting is not very well understood. This systematic review examines grief, loss, and bereavement experience of, and interventions relating to, family caregivers of those entering, living and dying in residential aged care. Out of 2023 papers that were identified, 35 met the inclusion criteria which included (n=28) qualitative and (n=7) quantitative intervention studies. The qualitative findings indicated quality of care provided to the resident at the end of their life, and after death care influenced family caregivers' grief reactions. The intervention studies revealed that educational interventions have the potential to lead to some benefits in the context of grief loss and bereavement outcomes. Recognizing the emotional experiences and support needs of families and carers may enhance the understanding of the ageing, caring, dying, grieving pathway for older people and their families.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Vandersman
- Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death, and Dying, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Amal Chakraborty
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University Centre for Rural Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Georgia Rowley
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jennifer Tieman
- Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death, and Dying, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen Z, Li Y, Xie Z, Tang S, Xiao J. Psychometric validation of the Chinese versions of the quality of communication questionnaires for cancer patients and their family caregivers. BMC Nurs 2024; 23:413. [PMID: 38898521 PMCID: PMC11188171 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-02071-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the lack of valid and reliable instruments for evaluating the quality of communication between physicians and cancer patients and their family caregivers in China, this study translated and culturally adapted the Quality of Communication questionnaires for cancer patients (QOC-P) and their family caregivers (QOC-F) for use in the Chinese context and evaluated their psychometric properties. METHODS The QOC-P and QOC-F were translated following an adapted version of Brislin's translation model and culturally adapted according to a Delphi expert panel. We pretested and refined the Chinese versions of the QOC-P and QOC-F among 16 dyads of patients and their family caregivers. Subsequently, we administered the questionnaires to 228 dyads of patients and their family caregivers who were recruited from six tertiary hospitals. The content validity, construct validity, convergent validity, and reliability of the QOC-P and QOC-F were examined. RESULTS Through exploratory factor analysis, The QOC-P and QOC-F were divided into two dimensions: general communication and end-of-life communication. The Cronbach's coefficients ranged from 0.905 to 0.907 for the two subscales of the QOC-P and from 0.908 to 0.953 for the two subscales of the QOC-F. The two-week test-retest reliability was acceptable for both the QOC-P and QOC-F, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.993 and 0.991, respectively. The scale content validity index (QOC-P: 0.857, QOC-F: 1.0) and split-half reliability (QOC-P: 0.833, QOC-F: 0.935) were satisfactory. There was a negative correlation with anxiety and depression for both the QOC-P (r = -0.233 & -0.241, p < 0.001) and QOC-F (r = -0.464 & -0.420, p<0.001). The QOC-P showed a negative correlation with decision regret (r = -0.445, p<0.001) and a positive correlation with shared decision-making (r = 0.525, p<0.001), as hypothesized. CONCLUSION The QOC-P and QOC-F show acceptable psychometric properties for evaluating the quality of communication between physicians and cancer patients and their family caregivers in both clinical and research contexts. Future studies should use more diverse and inclusive samples to test the structure of the Chinese version of the QOC-P and QOC-F with confirmatory factor analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Chen
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, NO. 172 Rd, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Yanjia Li
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, NO. 172 Rd, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Zhishan Xie
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, NO. 172 Rd, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Siyuan Tang
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, NO. 172 Rd, Changsha, 410013, China.
| | - Jinnan Xiao
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, NO. 172 Rd, Changsha, 410013, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
do Nascimento C, Dias SF, Rodrigues S, Afonso RM, Sousa EL. End of life and death of residents: Experiences and practices of care facility directors in Portuguese residential care facilities. DEATH STUDIES 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38830176 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2024.2355234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Residential care facilities (RCFs) are places where older people live and usually die. This exploratory qualitative study aims to describe the experiences and practices of the directors of Portuguese RCFs regarding residents' end of life and death. Data were obtained from 17 care facility directors (CFDs) who participated in three focus groups. Thematic data analysis was performed. The CFDs described their practices and experiences framed within three moments in the life journey of the residents in RCFs: admission and living in RCF; end of life and death; postmortem and new admission - continuing and occupying the vacancy. The results suggest that end of life and death are only addressed in the last days/hours of life of the resident. However, the CFDs' approach throughout the stay of the residents in the RCF could allow for the expression of their wishes and wills, which could facilitate a good and dignified death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana do Nascimento
- CINTESIS@RISE, Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- CASA MAIOR, Residential Care Facilities (RCFs), Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Fontoura Dias
- CINTESIS@RISE, Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sofia Rodrigues
- CINTESIS@RISE, Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rosa Marina Afonso
- CINTESIS@RISE, Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - E Liliana Sousa
- CINTESIS@RISE, Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nascimento C, Dias SF, Rodrigues S, Afonso R, Sousa L. When residents die in Portuguese care facilities: The experiences and practices of care facility directors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. DEATH STUDIES 2023; 48:1-8. [PMID: 36749791 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2023.2175392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This qualitative exploratory study aimed to describe the experiences and practices of care facility directors regarding residents dying in Portuguese residential care facilities (RCFs) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was obtained from 17 care director facilities who participated in focus groups. The data analysis followed the interpretative phenomenological approach. Participants stated that practices surrounding the death of the residents in Portuguese RCFs changed significantly from before to during the pandemic, regarding both those who died from COVID-19 infection and from other conditions. Four themes emerged that illustrated the situation during the peaks of the pandemic. During the pandemic, practices and experiences quite different from the usual ones have emerged. These results support the importance of a good death, and dying with dignity in RCFs, and the need for policies, practices, and training on the death of residents in RCFs in Portugal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Nascimento
- Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- ICBAS - Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
- CASA MAIOR, Nursing Homes, Porto, Portugal
| | - S F Dias
- CASA MAIOR, Nursing Homes, Porto, Portugal
| | - S Rodrigues
- CINTESIS@RISE, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - R Afonso
- Department of Education and Psychology, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Department of Psychology and Education, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - L Sousa
- Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Barlet MH, Barks MC, Ubel PA, Davis JK, Pollak KI, Kaye EC, Weinfurt KP, Lemmon ME. Characterizing the Language Used to Discuss Death in Family Meetings for Critically Ill Infants. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2233722. [PMID: 36197666 PMCID: PMC9535532 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.33722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance Communication during conversations about death is critical; however, little is known about the language clinicians and families use to discuss death. Objective To characterize (1) the way death is discussed in family meetings between parents of critically ill infants and the clinical team and (2) how discussion of death differs between clinicians and family members. Design, Setting, and Participants This longitudinal qualitative study took place at a single academic hospital in the southeast US. Patients were enrolled from September 2018 to September 2020, and infants were followed up longitudinally throughout their hospitalization. Participants included families of infants with neurologic conditions who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit and had a planned family meeting to discuss neurologic prognosis or starting, not starting, or discontinuing life-sustaining treatment. Family meetings were recorded, transcribed, and deidentified before being screened for discussion of death. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was the language used to reference death during family meetings between parents and clinicians. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze data. Results A total of 68 family meetings involving 36 parents of 24 infants were screened; 33 family meetings (49%) involving 20 parents (56%) and 13 infants (54%) included discussion of death. Most parents involved in discussion of death identified as the infant's mother (13 [65%]) and as Black (12 [60%]). Death was referenced 406 times throughout the family meetings (275 times by clinicians and 131 times by family members); the words die, death, dying, or stillborn were used 5% of the time by clinicians (13 of 275 references) and 15% of the time by family members (19 of 131 references). Four types of euphemisms used in place of die, death, dying, or stillborn were identified: (1) survival framing (eg, not live), (2) colloquialisms (eg, pass away), (3) medical jargon, including obscure technical terms (eg, code event) or talking around death with physiologic terms (eg, irrecoverable heart rate drop), and (4) pronouns without an antecedent (eg, it). The most common type of euphemism used by clinicians was medical jargon (118 of 275 references [43%]). The most common type of euphemism used by family members was colloquialism (44 of 131 references [34%]). Conclusions and Relevance In this qualitative study, the words die, death, dying, or stillborn were rarely used to refer to death in family meetings with clinicians. Families most often used colloquialisms to reference death, and clinicians most often used medical jargon. Future work should evaluate the effects of euphemisms on mutual understanding, shared decision-making, and clinician-family relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary C. Barks
- Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Peter A. Ubel
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - J. Kelly Davis
- Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kathryn I. Pollak
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Erica C. Kaye
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Kevin P. Weinfurt
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Monica E. Lemmon
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Johansson T, Tishelman C, Cohen J, Eriksson LE, Goliath I. Continuums of Change in a Competence-Building Initiative Addressing End-of-Life Communication in Swedish Elder Care. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2021; 31:1904-1917. [PMID: 33980082 PMCID: PMC8446900 DOI: 10.1177/10497323211012986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Conversations about values for the end-of-life (EoL) between residents, relatives, and staff may allow EoL preparation and enable value-concordant care, but remain rare in residential care home (RCH) practice. In this article, longitudinal qualitative analysis was used to explore changes in staff discussions about EoL conversations throughout workshop series based on reflection and knowledge exchange to promote EoL communication in RCHs. We identified three overall continuums of change: EoL conversations became perceived as more feasible and valuable; conceptualizations of quality EoL care shifted from being generalizable to acknowledging individual variation; and staff's role in facilitating EoL communication as a prerequisite for care decision-making was emphasized. Two mechanisms influenced changes: cognitively and emotionally approaching one's own mortality and shifting perspectives of EoL care. This study adds nuance and details about changes in staff reasoning, and the mechanisms that underlie them, which are important aspects to consider in future EoL competence-building initiatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol Tishelman
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm,
Sweden
- Stockholm Healthcare Services,
Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joachim Cohen
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel &
Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lars E. Eriksson
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm,
Sweden
- City University of London,
London, United Kingdom
- Karolinska University Hospital,
Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ida Goliath
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm,
Sweden
- Stockholm Gerontology Research
Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Figueiredo CDS, Ferreira EF, Assis MG. Death and Dying in Long-Term Care Facilities: The Perception of Occupational Therapists. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2021; 87:177-193. [PMID: 34024180 DOI: 10.1177/00302228211019206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
End-of-life care in long-term care facilities for older adults requires numerous skills. However, many professionals, including occupational therapists, feel unprepared to deal with death and dyingand have difficulties to attend to the real needs of the older adults and their families.This is a qualitative study anchored in phenomenologywhich had the objective to understand the perception of occupational therapists regarding death and dying inlong-term care facilities. Data were collected through focus groups and analyzed by thematic content analysis. A total of 12 occupational therapists participated in this study, and two themeswere generated: "The Experience of Death and Dying" and "The Occupational Therapist's approach in Facing Death and Dying". These results may contribute to improvingthe care provided to older adults in the process of death and dying.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina de S Figueiredo
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Efigênia F Ferreira
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marcella G Assis
- Dentistry School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Keleş Ş, Gül Ş, Yıldız A, Karabulut SD, Eren H, İskender MD, Baykara ZG, Yalım NY. Ethical Discourse of Medical Students on the Phenomenon of Death: A Qualitative Study. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2021; 87:146-176. [PMID: 34018435 DOI: 10.1177/00302228211014772] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to discover medical students' ideas on the phenomenon of death; produce information on how these students interpret the value-related problems regarding death that they come across in different units of hospitals; and assess this data in ethical terms. This study included a qualitative research in which 12 focus group interviews were conducted with 92 fifth- and sixth-year medical students. Data obtained from interviews were assessed using a thematic content secondary analysis. The main themes were specified according to the medical students' statements and were reviewed under the contexts of the "dying process"; "effects of death"; "attitude and behavior of health professionals"; "seeing a dead body/looking at a dead body"; "accepting death"; and "forms of expressions of death." Medical students' encounters with death in different units of hospitals leads them to question their values and familiarize themselves with the borders of their areas of profession.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Şükrü Keleş
- Department of Medical History and Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Şenay Gül
- Fundamentals of Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Abdullah Yıldız
- Department of Medical History and Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Seyhan Demir Karabulut
- Department of Medical History and Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Handan Eren
- Department of Nursing, Health Sciences Faculty, Yalova University, Yalova, Turkey
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|