Qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults

Bereavement and grief are natural processes and the majority of people ?nd their way through their loss. However, a small minority may bene?t from professional assistance and a service that meets their needs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an Australian Hospital Bereavement Serv...

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Main Authors: Brown, Janie, Gardner, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Routledge 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/8963
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author Brown, Janie
Gardner, J.
author_facet Brown, Janie
Gardner, J.
author_sort Brown, Janie
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Bereavement and grief are natural processes and the majority of people ?nd their way through their loss. However, a small minority may bene?t from professional assistance and a service that meets their needs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an Australian Hospital Bereavement Service on the next of kin of deceased patients. The service provides three consecutive tiers of support to palliative care patients and families including information and compassion, non-specialised bereavement support and specialist intervention referral to external agencies on an individual and selective basis. The research used a qualitative approach with semi-structured focus groups and thematic analysis. Major themes identi?ed were personal experience of grief; revisiting the hospital; and bereavement care experiences. We conclude assumptions should not be made about bereavement needs or grieving reactions of individuals. However, a suite of appropriate bereavement services, support groups and feedback opportunities are perceived as helpful by grieving adults. The research also highlighted how dif?cult it is for some family members to return to the hospital following the death of their loved one.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-89632017-09-13T14:35:41Z Qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults Brown, Janie Gardner, J. Bereavement and grief are natural processes and the majority of people ?nd their way through their loss. However, a small minority may bene?t from professional assistance and a service that meets their needs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an Australian Hospital Bereavement Service on the next of kin of deceased patients. The service provides three consecutive tiers of support to palliative care patients and families including information and compassion, non-specialised bereavement support and specialist intervention referral to external agencies on an individual and selective basis. The research used a qualitative approach with semi-structured focus groups and thematic analysis. Major themes identi?ed were personal experience of grief; revisiting the hospital; and bereavement care experiences. We conclude assumptions should not be made about bereavement needs or grieving reactions of individuals. However, a suite of appropriate bereavement services, support groups and feedback opportunities are perceived as helpful by grieving adults. The research also highlighted how dif?cult it is for some family members to return to the hospital following the death of their loved one. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/8963 10.1080/02682621.2015.1064582 Routledge restricted
spellingShingle Brown, Janie
Gardner, J.
Qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults
title Qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults
title_full Qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults
title_fullStr Qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults
title_full_unstemmed Qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults
title_short Qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults
title_sort qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/8963