Caregivers' psychological suffering and posttraumatic growth after patient death

Role of Post-Traumatic Growth in Bereavement Outcomes: An Inquiry of Family Caregivers in Hospice

Background: Family caregivers (FCGs) encounter several physical, psychosocial, and financial struggles while caring for a dying loved one. After their loved one has passed, FCGs face new difficulties as they transition out of the caregiving role and into bereavement. Recent research has focused on the positive adaptive outcomes of bereavement. Objective: This study examined the relationship between core bereavement experiences and post-traumatic growth (PTG) for bereaved hospice FCGs. Design: This is a quantitative cross-sectional mail-in survey. Settings/Subjects: A total of 395 bereaved FCGs of patients who died while under the care of a comprehensive hospice program were surveyed. Measurements: Demographics were collected. Bereavement experiences were assessed using the core bereavement items, and PTG was assessed using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Both surveys are validated measures. Results: Two-tailed bivariate correlations were used to analyze the relationships between bereavement experiences and PTG. Significant positive relationships were found between all bereavement experiences and PTG variables (p = <0.01-0.011, r = 0.134-0.290), except for one variable pairing (grief × new possibilities). Participants who reported more intense bereavement experiences also reported greater PTG, especially in the areas relating to others and appreciation of life. Conclusion: FCGs who undergo more intense bereavement experiences tend to experience greater PTG. This information can be used in the future to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of grief and loss.

Subjective rather than objective patient death experiences link with physicians' and nurses' professional quality of life

BACKGROUND

Patient deaths are impactful events for professional caregivers in both their professional and personal lives. The present study aims to explore how both subjective and objective patient death experiences are related to various aspects of professional quality of life (ProQOL) among physicians and nurses.

METHODS

Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data were conducted, and 306 Chinese physicians and nurses whose most recent patient death experience was more than one month prior were included. Objective and subjective patient death experiences were measured based on the number of past patient deaths and the Accumulated Global Changes (AGC) subscale of the Professional Bereavement Scale, respectively. ProQOL was measured with the Professional Quality of Life Scale. Regressions were run following bivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The number of past patient deaths was not significantly linked with any of the three ProQOL scores in either the bivariate analyses or regressions. Meanwhile, higher AGC scores were associated with higher burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction scores after participants' age, occupation (physician/nurse), department, work experience, job commitment, and sense of mission were controlled.

CONCLUSION

Subjective rather than objective past patient death experiences link significantly with all three aspects of physicians' and nurses' ProQOL. The more professional caregivers think that they have been changed by all past patient deaths in their career, the more they experience burnout and secondary traumatic stress, but, the more satisfied they are with their job and the helping itself.

Factors Associated with Post-Traumatic Growth in Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) research is flourishing across various disciplines; however, it is only emerging in healthcare. Recently, a flurry of studies assessed PTG among healthcare professionals. However, to date, no systematic review has identified the factors that predict their experiences of PTG among healthcare professionals. The current paper aims to address this gap. Of 126 papers, 27 were selected for this systematic review. The analysis identified a range of demographic, individual (work-related and personal), interpersonal and environmental factors that contributed to healthcare professionals' experiences of PTG. Analysis of findings offers a novel perspective on individual factors by dividing them into personal and work-related factors. Results also highlight a variety of psychological interventions that can be used in healthcare to cultivate PTG. In addition, the gaps in current research, implications for further research, policy and practice that can facilitate the experience of PTG among healthcare professionals are discussed.