"I couldn't say goodbye": Thematic analysis of interviews with bereaved relatives who lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11120%2F24%3A43927539" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11120/24:43927539 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216208:11210/24:10484718

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01551-y" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01551-y</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01551-y" target="_blank" >10.1186/s12904-024-01551-y</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

"I couldn't say goodbye": Thematic analysis of interviews with bereaved relatives who lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic

Original language description

BACKGROUND: Delivering serious news is usually challenging for healthcare professionals and the pandemic of COVID-19 and related restrictions brought additional challenges in this process. AIMS: To explore the experience of bereaved relatives with receiving serious news from healthcare professionals during the pandemic COVID-19. DESIGN: A qualitative study using thematic analysis and a codebook approach of data collected in semi-structured interviews with bereaved relatives. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected from July to August 2022 in person/via phone with bereaved relatives who lost their relatives during the pandemic (from March 2020 to March 2022). Participants were recruited using a convenience sample and snowball method through social media and through one university hospital palliative care unit that invited bereaved relatives of deceased patients treated at the unit to participate in this study. RESULTS: A total of 22 participants, consisting of 4 men and 18 women, were interviewed for this study. Most of the participants were sons or daughters of individuals who had died (5 grandchildren, 14 sons/daughters, 2 spouses, 1 great-niece). Six themes were identified: Burden caused by visit ban, Fear of COVID-19, Inappropriate behaviour and communication of healthcare professionals, High need for emotional support, Need for detailed and honest communication, Tendency to make excuses for mistakes and lapses by healthcare professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Delivering serious news during a pandemic was negatively influenced by a lack of contact with patients and a lack of support and empathetic communication with staff. Overcoming these circumstances can be achieved by frequent communication using various communication tools (such as videoconferences or phone calls), and maintaining empathy and honesty in the communication process.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

30304 - Public and environmental health

Project

—

Continuities

V - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z jinych verejnych zdroju

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

BMC Palliative Care

ISSN

1472-684X

e-ISSN

1472-684X

Volume of the periodical

23

Issue of the periodical within the volume

September

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

8

Pages from-to

226

UT code for WoS article

001310878700001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85203689889