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Smith P, Teasdale E, Sheppard-Law S. Parents' experience of extended viewing in a paediatric hospice: a qualitative study. Int J Palliat Nurs 2023; 29:34-42. [PMID: 36692478 DOI: 10.12968/ijpn.2023.29.1.34] [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: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rising prevalence of life-limiting conditions in children and young people warrants an evaluation of paediatric palliative care, hospice services and delivered care. AIM First, this study aimed to develop a deeper understanding of how extended viewing is experienced by the parents of a deceased child (or young person) with a life-limiting condition, based in Australia. Second, this study aimed to evaluate the quality of bereavement care delivered during the first few days after death. FINDINGS A total of 17 bereaved parents of 13 children completed an interview. In-depth interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. While the authors acknowledge the complexity and individual nature of grief, four broad themes were identified, namely the importance of the 'physical environment' being conducive to spending time with their child; 'seeing their child'; 'time to say goodbye'; and 'supportive care'. CONCLUSION The findings of this study reinforce that extended viewing can provide therapeutic benefits for parents, as well as the importance of a skilled palliative care nursing workforce in assisting with grief management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippa Smith
- Registered Nurse, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Australia
| | | | - Suzanne Sheppard-Law
- Senior Research Fellow (Nursing), University of Technology Sydney; Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Australia
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De Leo D, Guarino A, Congregalli B, Zammarrelli J, Valle A, Paoloni S, Cipolletta S. Receiving Notification of Unexpected and Violent Death: A Qualitative Study of Italian Survivors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10709. [PMID: 36078425 PMCID: PMC9518459 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: The loss of a significant person can be especially traumatic when death comes without warning and is due to causes such as suicide, murder and accidents. The way an individual is informed about the loss can affect the way of adapting to the loss and the quality of life of survivors. Communication modalities of the notifier may deeply influence the bereavement process. Aim: The present investigation aimed to explore the experience of those who received communication of such a type of death by a professional figure. (2) Method: Snowball sampling was used to recruit the participants to this qualitative study. Social networks, word of mouth and researchers' acquaintances were used, including clients of the NGO De Leo Fund. A total of 52 Italian people (eight males and forty four females, mean age = 49.44; SD = 14.23) who received notification of the death of a loved one by police officers or by health professionals participated in the study. Deaths involved cases of suicide, murder, road accident and mountain accident. (3) Results: The following four key themes were identified: (a) how the communication took place; (b) reactions; (c) support; and (d) coping strategies. Only 22 participants reported having received clear information about the dynamics of what happened; the rest of the sample obtained only poor or ambiguous information. The majority of participants sought or received informal support from family and friends immediately after notification; however, some participants experienced a total lack of support. The opportunity to see the body of the loved one for the last farewell, when denied, caused discomfort in recipients of the news. (4) Conclusions: Even the impactful notification of a traumatic death such as suicide or road accident can be mitigated by the appropriate behaviour and attitude of notifiers, who should always avoid providing generic or ambiguous information about what happened. The notification process should not end with the simple transmission of the communication, but should also look at the following phases by including referral to supportive networks or bereavement services, aimed at assisting individuals in the immediate aftermath but also in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego De Leo
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane 4122, Australia
- Slovene Center for Suicide Research, Primorska University, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
- De Leo Fund, 35137 Padua, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Anna Valle
- Autonomous Syndicate of Police (SAP), 00184 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sabrina Cipolletta
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
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Hackett J, Heavey E, Beresford B. 'It was like an airbag, it cushioned the blow': A multi-site qualitative study of bereaved parents' experiences of using cooling facilities. Palliat Med 2022; 36:365-374. [PMID: 35049399 PMCID: PMC8894949 DOI: 10.1177/02692163211059345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on the benefits to parents of spending time with their child in the hours after their death means this is now routine practice. UK children's hospices offer parents the opportunity to extend this period by using cooling facilities (i.e. cooled 'bedrooms'; cooling blankets/mattresses) to slow deterioration. AIM To explore parents' experiences of using cooling facilities and beliefs about how it shaped experiences of the very early days of bereavement, and on-going grieving processes. METHODS Multi-site study involving in-depth interviews with parents bereaved in the previous 3 years. Grief theories informed data analysis, which employed narrative and thematic approaches. Eight hospices supported recruitment. RESULTS Twenty-two mothers and eight fathers were recruited, representing 25% of families approached. Duration of use of a cooling facility varied, as did the amount of time spent with the child. All parents treasured this period, valuing the way it eased separation from their child and gave some control over when this happened. They believed all bereaved parents should have the opportunity to use a cooling facility. Using a cooling facility supported parents' engagement with grief tasks including acceptance of loss, processing emotional pain and facing changes to their lives brought about by their child's death. Memories and mementoes created during this period served to support on-going connections with the child. Parents who used a cooling facility at a hospice reported benefits of the setting itself. CONCLUSIONS As well as easing the very early days of loss, use of cooling facilities may influence longer-term bereavement outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Hackett
- Martin House Research Centre, University of York, York, UK
| | - Emily Heavey
- Department of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
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Becker CB, Taniyama Y, Sasaki N, Kondo-Arita M, Yamada S, Yamamoto K. Mourners' Dissatisfaction with Funerals May Influence Their Subsequent Medical/Welfare Expenses-A Nationwide Survey in Japan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19010486. [PMID: 35010746 PMCID: PMC8744719 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Japan's super-aged mortality rate bereaves millions of people annually, threatening the mental health of the bereaved population. Previous research suggests that participation in satisfying funeral rituals can protect or improve the health of a bereaved population-but pandemic restrictions threaten traditional funeral assemblies. To determine how bereaved mourners' mental health-and consequent dependence upon medical, pharmaceutical, or social services-are affected by funerals and the aspects of funerals most likely to cause satisfaction or dissatisfaction, we conducted an anonymous nationwide survey across Japan. In total, 1078 bereaved Japanese responded; we analyzed their responses by comparing the 106 citing funeral dissatisfaction with the 972 citing no dissatisfaction. The cohort showing greatest satisfaction with funerals tended to be older widows or parents who lost children; they showed greater grief but spent less on medical, pharmaceutical, or social services thereafter than the dissatisfied. Conversely, mourners with the greatest dissatisfaction toward their interactions with funeral directors and Buddhist priests tended to spend more on medical, pharmaceutical, or social services after bereavement. We conclude that training or education to improve priests' and funeral directors' interactions may reduce dissatisfaction with funerals, potentially reducing subsequent costs of medical, pharmaceutical, or social services for the rapidly growing population of bereaved Japanese.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl B. Becker
- Policy Science Unit, School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-75-753-9486
| | - Yozo Taniyama
- Department of Religious Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8576, Japan;
| | - Noriko Sasaki
- Department of Healthcare Economics and Quality Management, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;
| | - Megumi Kondo-Arita
- Nakayama International Center, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan;
| | - Shinya Yamada
- National Museum of Japanese History, Sakura 285-8502, Japan;
| | - Kayoko Yamamoto
- Department of Nursing, Tenri Health Care University, Tenri 632-0018, Japan;
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Reny D, Root S, Chreiman K, Browning R, Sims C. A Body of Evidence: Barriers to Family Viewing After Death by Gun Violence. J Surg Res 2019; 247:556-562. [PMID: 31757370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gun violence remains a staggering public health care crisis. Although viewing the victim's body is essential to the grieving process, this practice is not universally practiced in the trauma bay and may not be supported by nurses. This study investigates how trauma nurses perceive bereavement and the potential barriers to family viewing after death by gun violence. METHODS A survey designed to assess demographics, current practices, knowledge of policies, and personal beliefs regarding family viewing after violent crime was sent electronically to members of the Society of Trauma Nurses. Participants were asked to rank the importance of 14 viewing barriers. Descriptive analysis and perception of barriers between those who did and did not permit viewing were compared using Mann-Whitney tests. *P < 0.05 is considered significant. RESULTS Of the 212 participants, the majority were white, female nurses (86%), aged 30 to 60 y who worked in an urban or suburban setting (58% and 30%). Only 15% had a written hospital policy with the majority not knowing if the police (68%) or medical examiner (74%) had written policies. Despite lack of guidelines, viewings did routinely occur (68%), but only 37% permitted touching. Nurses who did not permit viewing were more likely to rank legal concerns and trauma bay environment as significant barriers. CONCLUSIONS Although family viewing after gun violence frequently occurs in the trauma bay, there are significant barriers that are compounded by lack of formal policies. Collaboration with police and medical examiners could mitigate these fears while promoting a safe and more family-centered experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Reny
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sarah Root
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kristen Chreiman
- Division of Traumatology, University of Pennsylvania, Surgical Critical Care, and Emergency Surgery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rhonda Browning
- Division of Traumatology, University of Pennsylvania, Surgical Critical Care, and Emergency Surgery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Carrie Sims
- Division of Traumatology, University of Pennsylvania, Surgical Critical Care, and Emergency Surgery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Chang NT, Su TC. Investigating the association between familial hypercholesterolemia and perceived depression. ATHEROSCLEROSIS SUPP 2019; 36:31-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosissup.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Jang K, Choe K. Bereavement experiences after the unexpected death of an older family member in the emergency department. Int Emerg Nurs 2018; 42:7-11. [PMID: 30392923 DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyeongmin Jang
- Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwisoon Choe
- Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
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Mowll J. Supporting Family Members to View the Body after a Violent or Sudden Death: A Role for Social Work. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK IN END-OF-LIFE & PALLIATIVE CARE 2017; 13:94-112. [PMID: 28613994 DOI: 10.1080/15524256.2017.1331182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Supporting family members to view the body of their relative after a traumatic death is a critical role for social workers in hospital and morgue settings; however, this role has had little attention in the literature. In-depth interviews with 48 bereaved family members explored their experiences of helpful and unhelpful aspects of support when viewing the body of their deceased relative. A central theme of "support as a relational interaction" was identified. Aspects of the connection and communication valued by participants within this relational interaction included: "permissions and possibilities," "information and preparation," "presenting with care," "time and timing," and "tuning to family." These results are considered with grief practice and theory, to suggest the need for social workers to actively engage with working in the interface between the deceased body and the grieving family. This includes advocating a private location for time with the body and using interpersonal skills to provide paced and dosed information for preparation to view that is consistent with the capacities and needs of the individual and family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Mowll
- a School of Social Sciences, The University of New South Wales , Sydney , New South Wales , Australia
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Sefansky S. Involved in the Business of Death: The Social Work Role in Postmortem Care. HEALTH & SOCIAL WORK 2017; 42:e8-e14. [PMID: 28395069 DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlw052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
One way that hospitals address concerns about postmortem care is through an office of decedent affairs (ODA). Many hospitals use this office to collect death paperwork, release bodies to funeral homes, perform autopsies, or increase rates of autopsies and organ and tissue donations. It is not common for an ODA to report to the Department of Social Work rather than the Department of Pathology. Few offices put the emphasis on postmortem care for families or staff members. A comprehensive postmortem program needs many different components, including support to families (for example, viewing the dead, advising on next steps after a death, and providing bereavement support), consulting with and supporting multidisciplinary staffers, and coordinating with multiple medical center departments. This article examines a hospital's use of social work principles and clinical training to provide leadership to an ODA and describes the key elements and advantages of a successful program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Sefansky
- Social work program manager, Office of Decedent Affairs, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, L1252 UH South, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Omerov P, Pettersen R, Titelman D, Nyberg T, Steineck G, Dyregrov A, Nyberg U. Encountering the Body at the Site of the Suicide: A Population-Based Survey in Sweden. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2017; 47:38-47. [PMID: 27111725 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Encountering the body of a child who died by suicide at the site of death is believed to be especially harmful for bereaved parents. We investigated the association between encountering the body at the site of the suicide and psychological distress in 666 suicide-bereaved parents. Parents who had encountered their child's body at the site of the suicide (n = 147) did not have a higher risk of nightmares (relative risk [RR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-1.35), intrusive memories (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.84-1.13), avoidance of thoughts (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.74-1.27), avoidance of places or things (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.66-1.25), anxiety (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.64-1.33), or depression (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.63-1.42) compared with parents who had not encountered the body (n = 512). Our results suggest that losing a child by suicide is sufficiently disastrous by itself to elicit posttraumatic responses or psychiatric morbidity whether or not the parent has encountered the deceased child at the site of death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pernilla Omerov
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm Centre for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,The Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rossana Pettersen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm Centre for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Titelman
- National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tommy Nyberg
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Steineck
- Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Atle Dyregrov
- Center for Crisis Psychology, Bergen, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ullakarin Nyberg
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm Centre for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Walker W, Deacon K. Nurses’ experiences of caring for the suddenly bereaved in adult acute and critical care settings, and the provision of person-centred care: A qualitative study. Intensive Crit Care Nurs 2016; 33:39-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.iccn.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Revised: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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12
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Lives forever changed: Family bereavement experiences after sudden cardiac death. Appl Nurs Res 2013; 26:168-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2013.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2012] [Revised: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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