Determinants of grief resolution in cancer death

The death of a loved one can be very difficult, and yet there is little information about how nurses can help someone through it. The purpose of this exploratory ex post facto study was to determine whether the circumstances of a cancer death influence the grief resolution of the survivor at one month after the death. The circumstances that were studied include: (1) the place of death, (2) the length of the cancer illness, (3) the perceived social support from family/friends, (4) the perceived social support from nurses, (5) satisfaction with the care received by the loved one, and (6) the quality of death of the loved one. Data were gathered from 43 survivors (spouses, children, and parents) through questionnaires and an open-ended interview. The study findings provide a better understanding and knowledge of nursing interventions for the family/friend of the imminently terminal cancer patient.