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Bereaved parents' perspectives on their needs
Norma Mammone D'Agostino1, Deborah Berlin-Romalis, Vesna Jovcevska
1Princess Margaret Hospital, Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Palliative & Supportive Care
|February 20, 2008
Summary
Parental bereavement services from pediatric oncology centers are crucial. Flexible, continuous support and peer connection aid healing after a child
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Bereavement Care
- Childhood Cancer Survivorship
Background:
- Child loss is a deeply traumatic experience for parents.
- Parental bereavement needs and services, particularly after childhood cancer, require further investigation.
- Understanding parental perspectives is key to developing effective support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine parental views on bereavement services offered by a pediatric oncology center.
- To identify helpful components of bereavement support from the parents' perspective.
Main Methods:
- A 2-hour focus group was conducted with seven parents who had experienced child loss.
- Open-ended questions facilitated discussion on perceived helpfulness of bereavement services.
- Discussions were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Parents viewed flexible and continuous hospital-based bereavement services as vital for transitioning to community support.
- Peer support from other bereaved parents was considered critical for healing.
- Maintaining contact with healthcare staff from the treating hospital was also identified as important.
Conclusions:
- Transitional, multimodal bereavement services provided by pediatric oncology centers can enhance family well-being.
- Integrating hospital and community resources offers a comprehensive approach to parental bereavement care.
- Addressing the unique needs of families experiencing childhood cancer loss is essential.
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