Sue E Morris1, Courtney M Anderson2, Sarah J Tarquini3, Susan D Block4. 1. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 2. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 4. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
Objectives: Identifying family members at-risk of poor bereavement outcomes poses a challenge for clinicians, resulting in inconsistent bereavement follow-up. The current quality improvement study tests a method for identification of at-risk family members, and describes follow-up they received from the bereavement service at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Design: A standardized bereavement risk assessment, referral and follow-up process was piloted as part of a quality improvement project using a plan-do-study-act approach (PDSA). Methods: A convenience sample of eleven clinical social workers completed paper and pencil bereavement risk-screening assessments using the Bereavement Risk-Screening Tool (BRST) on a sample of bereaved family members known to them. The results of the BRST were passed onto the bereavement program for follow-up.Findings: Eleven out of a total of 17 social workers participated in the study. Social workers screened 100% (52/52) of identified bereaved family members, corresponding to 52 patient deaths. Approximately half (28/52) were identified as being 'at-risk' of a poor bereavement outcome based on the social worker's consideration of the presence of potential risk-factors and their response to a prediction-type question about the bereaved individual's future coping. 'Lack of preparation for the death', 'unexpected death within the context of an illness' and 'witnessing a difficult death' were the most commonly identified risk factors. Of those individuals who were identified to be 'at-risk', 89% received an outreach attempt by telephone from the director of bereavement services, surpassing our project target of 80%. Conclusions: The BRST has the potential to help clinicians in health care settings identify those family members who might be considered at heightened risk of a poor bereavement outcome, facilitating early outreach and recommendations for support. The tool was easy to complete and helped streamline the referral process to the bereavement program.
Objectives: Identifying family members at-risk of poor bereavement outcomes poses a challenge for clinicians, resulting in inconsistent bereavement follow-up. The current quality improvement study tests a method for identification of at-risk family members, and describes follow-up they received from the bereavement service at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Design: A standardized bereavement risk assessment, referral and follow-up process was piloted as part of a quality improvement project using a plan-do-study-act approach (PDSA). Methods: A convenience sample of eleven clinical social workers completed paper and pencil bereavement risk-screening assessments using the Bereavement Risk-Screening Tool (BRST) on a sample of bereaved family members known to them. The results of the BRST were passed onto the bereavement program for follow-up.Findings: Eleven out of a total of 17 social workers participated in the study. Social workers screened 100% (52/52) of identified bereaved family members, corresponding to 52 patient deaths. Approximately half (28/52) were identified as being 'at-risk' of a poor bereavement outcome based on the social worker's consideration of the presence of potential risk-factors and their response to a prediction-type question about the bereaved individual's future coping. 'Lack of preparation for the death', 'unexpected death within the context of an illness' and 'witnessing a difficult death' were the most commonly identified risk factors. Of those individuals who were identified to be 'at-risk', 89% received an outreach attempt by telephone from the director of bereavement services, surpassing our project target of 80%. Conclusions: The BRST has the potential to help clinicians in health care settings identify those family members who might be considered at heightened risk of a poor bereavement outcome, facilitating early outreach and recommendations for support. The tool was easy to complete and helped streamline the referral process to the bereavement program.
Authors: Kailey E Roberts; Greta Jankauskaite; Elizabeth Slivjak; Lisa Rubin; Sherry Schachter; Stacy Stabler; Lori Wiener; Holly G Prigerson; Wendy G Lichtenthal Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2020-10-03 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Pandora Patterson; Fiona E J McDonald; Elizabeth Kelly-Dalgety; Bianca Lavorgna; Barbara L Jones; Anna E Sidis; Thomasin Powell Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2021-04-29 Impact factor: 3.234