Jennifer M Snaman1, Erica C Kaye1, Carlos Torres2, Deborah V Gibson1,3, Justin N Baker1,3. 1. Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee. 3. Division of Quality of Life and Palliative Care, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bereaved parents experience significant psychosocial and health sequelae, suggesting that this population may benefit from the ongoing extension of support and resources throughout the grief journey. The interaction of hospital staff with patients and families at the end of a child's life and after death profoundly affects parental grief, offering a unique opportunity for the medical community to positively impact the bereavement experience. The current study was conducted to explore the role of the health care team and medical institutions in the grief journeys of parents whose child died a cancer-related death. METHODS: Eleven bereaved parents participated in 2 focus groups. Responses to each of the 3 main prompts were coded and analyzed independently using semantic content analysis techniques. RESULTS: Four main concepts were identified within the parental narratives, including the importance of strong and ongoing relationships between providers and bereaved families, the importance of high-quality communication, the effect of negative experiences between providers and families on parental grief, and the importance of the institution's role in the grief journeys of bereaved parents. CONCLUSIONS: Bereaved parents consistently identified the critical role played by medical staff and medical institutions throughout the grief journey. Key components of bereavement support identified by parents should serve to guide the actions of providers as well as provide a template for the development of a comprehensive bereavement program within an institution. Cancer 2016.
BACKGROUND: Bereaved parents experience significant psychosocial and health sequelae, suggesting that this population may benefit from the ongoing extension of support and resources throughout the grief journey. The interaction of hospital staff with patients and families at the end of a child's life and after death profoundly affects parental grief, offering a unique opportunity for the medical community to positively impact the bereavement experience. The current study was conducted to explore the role of the health care team and medical institutions in the grief journeys of parents whose child died a cancer-related death. METHODS: Eleven bereaved parents participated in 2 focus groups. Responses to each of the 3 main prompts were coded and analyzed independently using semantic content analysis techniques. RESULTS: Four main concepts were identified within the parental narratives, including the importance of strong and ongoing relationships between providers and bereaved families, the importance of high-quality communication, the effect of negative experiences between providers and families on parental grief, and the importance of the institution's role in the grief journeys of bereaved parents. CONCLUSIONS: Bereaved parents consistently identified the critical role played by medical staff and medical institutions throughout the grief journey. Key components of bereavement support identified by parents should serve to guide the actions of providers as well as provide a template for the development of a comprehensive bereavement program within an institution. Cancer 2016.
Keywords:
bereaved parent; bereavement; bereavement program; cancer; communication; end of life; grief; health care provider; palliative care; pediatric oncology
Authors: Lori Wiener; Julia Tager; Jennifer Mack; Haven Battles; Sima Zadeh Bedoya; Cynthia A Gerhardt Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2019-10-08 Impact factor: 3.838