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Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs 2021 Jul-Aug;8(4):369-376. Epub 2021 May 31.

Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the interrelationship between anticipatory grief (AG), caregiver burden, communication, preparation for death, and coping style.

Methods: A convenience sample of 256 Chinese family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer were recruited from an academic cancer hospital between April 2018 and May 2019. This cross-sectional survey included the AG Scale, caregiver burden (Caregiver Reaction Assessment), communication (Caregivers' Communication with Patients about Illness and Death Scale), preparation for death, and coping style (Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire). Read More

Lancet Public Health 2021 Jun 8. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

School of Population Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Health disparities in incarcerated populations should guide investment in the health care and research of these communities. Although users of health-care services are important in providing input into decisions about research, the voices of people in prison are absent regarding research into their health. In this Health Policy paper, we present priorities for research into the health of people in prison according to people in prison themselves. Read More

Br J Nurs 2021 Jun;30(11):644-650

Education Lead Critical Care, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Background: Losing a loved one in the intensive care unit (ICU) can be a traumatic experience. The literature highlights that relatives of those who have died in ICU can experience symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and prolonged grief.

Aim: To evaluate the service delivery of the bereavement care that is provided on a 20-bed general ICU. Read More

J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2021 Jun 2. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

William E. Rosa, PhD, MBE, ACHPN, FAANP, FAAN, is postdoctoral research fellow in psycho-oncology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. Kristin Levoy, PhD, MSN, RN, OCN, is postdoctoral research fellow, NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Vanessa Battista, RN, MS, CPNP-PC, CHPPN, is nurse practitioner, Department of Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Constance Dahlin, MSN, ANP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN, is palliative nurse practitioner, Palliative Care Service, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, Massachusetts. Cheryl Thaxton, DNP, APRN, CPNP, FNP-BC, CHPPN, ACHPN, FPCN, is DNP program director/APRN program, College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Denton. Kelly Greer, BS, is supervisor, Division of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California.

Nurses are confronting a number of negative mental health consequences owing to high burdens of grief during COVID-19. Despite increased vaccination efforts and lower hospitalization and mortality rates, the long-term effects of mass bereavement are certain to impact nurses for years to come. The nurse coaching process is an evidence-based strategy that nurse leaders can use to assist staff in mitigating negative mental health outcomes associated with bereavement. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 May 24;18(11). Epub 2021 May 24.

Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain.

Perinatal death is the death of a baby that occurs between the 22nd week of pregnancy (or when the baby weighs more than 500 g) and 7 days after birth. After perinatal death, parents experience the process of perinatal grief. Midwives and nurses can develop interventions to improve the perinatal grief process. Read More

Front Psychiatry 2021 7;12:620583. Epub 2021 May 7.

Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Centre, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.

In Italy, in the very first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic there was a dramatic rise in mortality. However, families were forbidden because of lockdown regulations to be with their loved ones at their deathbeds or to hold funerals. This qualitative study examined bereavement experiences among family members, how they processed their grief, and how they used social networks in particular by uploading photographs during the working-through of bereavement. Read More

Res Dev Disabil 2021 Jul 19;114:103981. Epub 2021 May 19.

Texas A&M University, College of Education and Human Development, Department of Educational Psychology, 709 Harrington Office Building, College Station, TX, 77843, United States. Electronic address:

The psychological effects of disasters on children with disabilities are understudied, despite evidence towards increased risk for complications after other types of trauma exposure. This study investigated the experience of children and youth with disabilities exposed to the 2017 Northern California wildfires, with a particular focus on psychological reactions. In-depth interviews were conducted with parents of 14 children and youth with disabilities one year post-disaster. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021 May 20;21(1):395. Epub 2021 May 20.

Department of Nursing, Christian Service University College, Kumasi, Ghana.

Background: Preterm delivery is the birth of a baby before 37 weeks of gestation. This global phenomenon is a critical issue of concern especially in developing countries that are resource-constrained when it comes to the management of preterm babies. Complications associated with prematurity contribute significantly to under-five mortality and are linked with feelings of despair, grief, and anxiety among mothers. Read More

Dimens Crit Care Nurs 2021 Mar-Apr 01;40(2):83-91

Background/introduction: Bereavement and grief in critical care nurses remain an understudied phenomenon. As a way of self-protection, nurses may compartmentalize their own feelings and need assistance and support in processing feelings of bereavement. Nurses spend much of their time caring for patients and their family members, while guiding them through the dying process; however, they may not take adequate time to address their own bereavement needs. Read More

Curr Psychol 2021 Apr 24:1-9. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

Department of Psychology, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA USA.

Millions of people are mourning the death of a loved to COVID-19. According to previous studies, the circumstances of coronavirus disease-related deaths may lead to dysfunctional grief. The purpose of this study was to introduce the Polish adaptation of the Pandemic Grief Scale (PGS) as well as to assess the relationship between dysfunctional grief due to a COVID-19 death, resilience and perceived social support. Read More

BMC Palliat Care 2021 Apr 29;20(1):64. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Canteen Australia, GPO Box 3821, Sydney, NSW, 2001, Australia.

Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) bereaved by the death of a parent or sibling from cancer report unique psychosocial needs and can have difficulty adjusting to their loss. Unaddressed, this can result in poor long-term bereavement outcomes. This paper describes the development and evaluation of Good Grief - a 3-day camp-based program focused on meeting coping, social support, and respite needs of AYAs bereaved by familial cancer. Read More

Obstet Gynecol Surv 2021 Apr;76(4):223

Reproductive Psychiatrist; Associate Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology; Division Chief, Women's Mental Health and Wellness; Co-Director, Menopause and Sexual Medicine Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.

Importance: Psychological reactions to perinatal loss, although often self-limited, may lead to significant psychological morbidities. Obstetrician-gynecologists and other maternal health providers play a key role in recognizing the range of psychological responses to perinatal loss and providing education, support, and treatment options to their patients.

Objective: This review aims to define psychological reactions associated with perinatal loss, examine psychotherapy and psychopharmacologic treatments for psychiatric morbidities, discuss interpregnancy interval following perinatal loss, and highlight brief, psychological interventions that can be implemented by maternal health providers. Read More

Front Psychol 2021 29;12:644782. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of Social Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

COVID-19 has taken many lives worldwide and due to this, millions of persons are in grief. When the grief process lasts longer than 6 months, the person is in risk of developing Complicated Grief Disorder (CGD). The CGD is related to serious health consequences. Read More

Nurse Educ Today 2021 Jun 23;101:104880. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Clinical Services, Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, 75 Granite Street, New London, CT 06320, United States of America. Electronic address:

Principles of trauma-informed care and resiliency building guides this call to action for trauma awareness in nursing education, aiming to guide nursing educators, researchers, and leaders in support, retention, and building foundational skill-sets in a now traumatized nursing student population. Nursing students have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in documented trauma, complicated grief, depression, anxiety, and secondary stress syndrome. Students entering health care in a new landscape of ongoing trauma and chronic stress exposure require a shift in the nurse educators' role and position. Read More

BMC Health Serv Res 2021 Mar 31;21(1):291. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Institute of Public Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Background: This study aims to explore the experiences, beliefs, feelings, and challenges faced by Pakistani migrant doctors working in the United Kingdom in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The qualitative study aims to explore the lived experiences, beliefs, feelings, and challenges faced by Pakistani migrant physicians working in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: An exploratory phenomenological approach was used to collate data on experiences expressed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Prehosp Emerg Care 2021 Mar 30:1-8. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California (AB); Healthcare Administration and Interprofessional Leadership, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California (MT); Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency, Oxnard, California (AS); University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California (KS).

To evaluate the effect of a Mobile Integrated Hospice Healthcare (MIHH) program including hospice education and expansion of paramedic scope of practice to use hospice medication kits. Primary outcome was the effect on hospice patient transport to the Emergency Department. Secondary outcomes included reasons for patient transport and review of MIHH kit utilization. Read More

Can Geriatr J 2021 Mar 2;24(1):36-43. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging, Baycrest, Toronto, ON.

Background: Older adults are entering long-term care (LTC) homes with more complex care needs than in previous decades, resulting in demands on point-of-care staff to provide additional and specialty services. This study evaluated whether Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Care of the Elderly Long-Term Care (COE-LTC)-a case-based online education program-is an effective capacity-building program among interprofessional health-care teams caring for LTC residents.

Methods: A mixed-method, pre-and-post study comprised of satisfaction, knowledge, and self-efficacy surveys and exploration of experience via semi-structured interviews. Read More

J Public Health (Oxf) 2021 06;43(2):e336-e337

Department of Theology and Religious Education, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines.

This paper is a response to the recent correspondence published in this journal where the author rightly stated that need to redirect one's perception on the different realities of life such as death. This paper discusses the difficulties associated with loss, grief and healing in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. This paper further adds the importance of accompaniment to people experiencing the complicated grief process. Read More

Dementia (London) 2021 Mar 5:1471301220988237. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Background And Objectives: Despite many studies on 'life after care' for family caregivers with dementia in Western societies, little is known about the bereavement experiences of family caregivers in China. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of bereavement on family members of people with dementia in China. It also hopes to inform end-of-life care within communities, providing a theoretical basis for improving the quality of life of bereaved family caregivers. Read More

Front Public Health 2021;9:622592. Epub 2021 Feb 12.

Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education, Fordham University, New York, NY, United States.

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing major social changes to which significant psychological effects are linked. During the first phase of the pandemic wave in Italy, whilst there was insufficient information about the phenomenon and the strategies to safeguard the population against it, many categories of people, whose professions required constant contact with the public, were affected by the contagion. The literature has shown how religiousness can support the management of stress due to diseases and health risks. Read More

Omega (Westport) 2021 Feb 24:30222821997702. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Center for Crisis Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.

Thirteen parents who lost the mother or father to their child were interviewed, using semi-structured interviews. Participants reflect on their young children's (3-6) grief, support needs, and what they learned from this trying time. The event scarred all participants. Read More

Br J Health Psychol 2021 Feb 21. Epub 2021 Feb 21.

Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.

Objectives: Facial palsy (FP) is a highly visible appearance-affecting condition and can have a significant impact on facial function. Qualitative research focussing on adults' experiences of living with acquired FP is limited. This study aimed to explore the psychosocial impact of acquired FP and to gain a greater understanding of patients' experiences of treatment and care in the United Kingdom. Read More

Omega (Westport) 2021 Feb 14:30222821993624. Epub 2021 Feb 14.

Faculty of Graduate Studies, Oranim Academic College of Education, Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel.

This qualitative study examined teachers' experiences dealing with bereaved students following the death of a parent. The researchers conducted in-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 25 teachers in Israeli schools who had counseled one of their students after the death of a parent. The interviews were recorded and transcribed and underwent content analysis. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2021 ;80(1):421-432

Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.

Background: Caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) are faced with numerous challenges. However, little is known about the caregiving experience across different dementias.

Objective: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to examine the differences in the caregiver experience between DLB, PDD, and AD. Read More

J Appl Gerontol 2021 Feb 1:733464821989859. Epub 2021 Feb 1.

University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, USA.

For home care agencies and aides, the death of clients has important, yet often unrecognized, workforce implications. While research demonstrates that client death can cause grief and job insecurity for aides, we currently lack home care agencies' perspectives on this issue and approaches to addressing it. This study uses key informant interviews with leaders from a diverse sample of eight New York City home care agencies to explore facilitators and barriers to agency action. Read More

Eur Eat Disord Rev 2020 11 27;28(6):766-772. Epub 2020 Jul 27.

Eating Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.

There is growing support for the role of self-compassion in recovery from an eating disorder (ED) and two types of barriers have been identified in this population: (a) fears that self-compassion will result in a failure to meet personal and interpersonal standards (meeting standards); and (b) fears that self-compassion gives rise to difficult emotions such as grief and unworthiness (emotional vulnerability).

Objective: This research examined the relative contribution of meeting standards and emotional vulnerability barriers to the clinical characteristics of individuals with EDs.

Method: Participants (N = 349) completed the fears of compassion for self-scale, and measures of self-compassion, ED and psychiatric symptom severity, interpersonal and affective functioning, quality of life and readiness for ED change. Read More

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2020 Sep 28;34(1):56-58. Epub 2020 Sep 28.

Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

Patient death is a formative and emotional experience for physicians. Medical trainees are particularly susceptible to the emotional impact of patient death. However, few studies have examined how trainees process patient death. Read More

PLoS One 2021 12;16(1):e0245186. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

Global and Women's Health, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Optimal mental health underpins full social participation. As people age, they confront personal and cultural challenges, the effects of which on mental health are not fully understood. The aim of this research was to learn from women of the Baby Boomer generation (born 1946-1964) what contributes to and hinders their mental health and wellbeing. Read More

J Palliat Med 2021 Jan 6. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Hospital-based support for bereaved parents is regarded as best practice. Little is known about parental perceptions or programmatic potential of online grief support. To learn from bereaved parent participants' experiences with an online support group to include perceptions of technology acceptance and group communication dynamics. Read More