Bereavement risk screening: A pathway to psychosocial oncology care

This qualitative study sought to obtain feedback from stakeholder cancer caregivers and bereaved family members on the implementation of bereavement risk screening in oncology.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 family members of patients with advanced cancer (n = 12) and bereaved family members (n = 26) on when and how to effectively implement bereavement risk screening. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Many participants indicated that they would be open to completing a self-report screening measure before and after the patient's death. Several suggested screening at multiple timepoints and the importance of follow-up. Participants viewed screening as an opportunity to connect to psychosocial support.

The findings suggest that family members appear supportive of sensitively approached bereavement risk screening before and after a patient's death as an important component of quality psychosocial care. To optimize implementation, bereavement risk screening would involve screening at multiple timepoints and include follow-up. Findings suggest standardized risk screening using a brief, validated self-report tool would be a pragmatic approach to increasing access to bereavement care.