“What I Did for My Loved One Is More Important than Whether We Talked About Death”: A Nationwide Survey of Bereaved Family Members

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanori Mori ◽  
Saran Yoshida ◽  
Mariko Shiozaki ◽  
Tatsuya Morita ◽  
Mika Baba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Members ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Bereaved Family

Family and Clinician Experiences of Sympathy Cards in the 3 Wishes Project

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 422-428
Author(s):  
Alyson Takaoka ◽  
Meredith Vanstone ◽  
Thanh H. Neville ◽  
Sophia Goksoyr ◽  
Marilyn Swinton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Shared Humanity ◽  
Clinician Experiences ◽  
Conventional Content Analysis ◽  
Bereaved Family

Background A recent randomized trial of bereaved family members of patients who died in an intensive care unit identified symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress in recipients of semistructured condolence letters. Objectives To explore family member and clinician experiences with receiving or sending handwritten sympathy cards upon the death of patients involved in a personalized end-of-life intervention, the 3 Wishes Project. Methods Interviews and focus groups were held with 171 family members and 222 clinicians at 4 centers to discuss their experiences with the 3 Wishes Project. Interview transcripts were searched to identify participants who discussed sympathy cards. Data related to sympathy cards were independently coded by 2 investigators through conventional content analysis. Results Sympathy cards were discussed during 32 interviews (by 25 family members of 21 patients and by 11 clinicians) and 2 focus groups (8 other clinicians). Family members reported that personalized sympathy cards were a welcome surprise; they experienced them as a heartfelt act of compassion. Clinicians viewed cards as an opportunity to express shared humanity with families, reminding them that they and their loved one were not forgotten. Signing cards allowed clinicians to reminisce individually and collectively with colleagues. Family members and clinicians experienced sympathy cards as a meaningful continuation of care after a patient’s death. Conclusions Inviting clinicians who cared for deceased patients to offer personalized, handwritten condolences to bereaved family members may cultivate sincere and individualized expressions of sympathy that bereaved families appreciate after the death of patients involved in the 3 Wishes Project.

Care for Imminently Dying Cancer Patients: Family Members' Experiences and Recommendations

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuya Shinjo ◽  
Tatsuya Morita ◽  
Kei Hirai ◽  
Mitsunori Miyashita ◽  
Kazuki Sato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Dying Patients ◽  
The Family ◽  
High Level ◽  
Bereaved Family

Purpose The aim of this study was to clarify the level of emotional distress experienced by bereaved family members and the perceived necessity for improvement in the care for imminently dying patients and to explore possible causes of distress and alleviating measures. Methods A cross-sectional nationwide survey was performed in 2007 of bereaved families of cancer patients at 95 palliative care units across Japan. Results Questionnaires were sent to 670 families, and 76% responded. Families reported their experiences as very distressing in 45% of cases. Regarding care, 1.2% of respondents believed that a lot of improvement was needed, compared with 58% who believed no improvement was needed. Determinants of high-level distress were a younger patient age, being a spouse, and overhearing conversations between the medical staff outside the room at the time of the patient's death; those reporting high-level necessity of improvement were less likely to have encountered attempts to ensure the patient's comfort, received less family coaching on how to care for the patient, and felt that insufficient time was allowed for the family to grieve after the patient's death. Conclusion A considerable number of families experienced severe emotional distress when their family member died. Thus, we propose that a desirable care concept for imminently dying cancer patients should include relief of patient suffering, family advisement on how to care for the patient, allowance of enough time for the family to grieve, and ensuring that family members cannot overhear medical staff conversations at the time of the patient's death.

Prevalence and predictors of conflict in the families of patients with advanced cancer: A nationwide survey of bereaved family members

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 302-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Hamano ◽  
Tatsuya Morita ◽  
Masanori Mori ◽  
Naoko Igarashi ◽  
Yasuo Shima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Bereaved Family

Prevalence and Correlates of Suicidal Ideation in a Treatment-Seeking Sample of Violent Loss Survivors

Crisis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joah L. Williams ◽  
Jasmine R. Eddinger ◽  
Edward K. Rynearson ◽  
Alyssa A. Rheingold
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Loved One ◽  
The Us ◽  
Bereaved Family

Abstract. Background: Family members grieving the traumatic death of a loved one, as in cases of homicide, suicide, and fatal accidents, are at risk for a number of trauma and bereavement-related mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, prolonged grief disorder, and suicidal ideation (SI). Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of SI among a sample of 130 treatment-seeking traumatically bereaved family members. Method: Adults seeking treatment at two clinics on the US West Coast were assessed for SI, clinical outcomes, and death-related characteristics. Results: Overall, 42% of traumatically bereaved family members endorsed some form of active or passive SI on the Beck Depression Inventory suicide item. The type of loss experienced (i.e., homicide, suicide, fatal accident) was not associated with SI. Although individuals with SI reported more severe symptoms across all clinical outcomes, avoidance (OR = 2.22) and depression (OR = 1.16) were uniquely associated with SI even after adjusting for PTSD-related intrusions and hyperarousal. Limitations: Results should be interpreted in light of limitations associated with cross-sectional data and a single-item outcome of SI. Conclusion: Routine screening for SI should be standard practice for providers working with traumatically bereaved families.

Bereaved Family Members’ Views of the Value of Coronial Inquests Into Fatal Work Incidents

2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Ngo ◽  
Lynda R. Matthews ◽  
Michael Quinlan ◽  
Philip Bohle
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Common Theme ◽  
Institutional Response ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Know How ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Bereaved Family ◽  
Sense Of Justice

Fatal work incidents result in an array of government responses, and in countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, this may include the holding of coronial inquests. A common theme from the scant literature is that family members have a strong need to know how and why their loved one died. The inquisitorial nature of inquests suggests potential in uncovering this information, although little is known about families’ experiences with these proceedings. Interviews with 40 bereaved relatives explored their views and experiences of inquests. Findings suggest that families, often frustrated with other investigative processes, want inquests to provide a better understanding of how and why the death occurred, uncover any failings/responsibilities, and thereby move closer to a sense of justice being obtained for the deceased. Families identified problems perceived to impair the process and where improvements could be made to secure a more effective and meaningful institutional response to the fatality.

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