“You either need help…you feel you don't need help…or you don't feel worthy of asking for it:” Receptivity to bereavement support

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pippa Blackburn ◽  
Caroline Bulsara
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Bereavement Support ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Provider Perspectives ◽  
Palliative Care Services

AbstractObjectiveAlthough the needs of the bereaved have been identified widely in the literature, how these needs translate into meaningful, appropriate, and client-centered programs needs further exploration. The application of receptivity to support is a critical factor in participation by the bereaved in palliative care bereavement programs. Receptivity is a complex multifactorial phenomenon influenced by internal and external factors that ultimately influences engagement in psychosocial support in bereavement. This study explored factors that influence receptivity to bereavement support from palliative care services in rural, regional, and remote Western Australia.MethodThe study comprised a qualitative descriptive research design using semistructured interviews with 24 bereaved individuals, nine palliative care health professionals, and four Aboriginal Health Professionals. Participants were recruited via palliative care services in country Western Australia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed.ResultFindings revealed that a range of individual, social, and geographical factors influence receptivity to bereavement support and can impact on utilization of bereavement support services.Significance of resultsReceptivity provides a frame of reference to enhance understanding of factors influencing engagement in psychosocial support in bereavement. Receptivity promotes a shift of service provider perspectives of effective supportive care to consumer-centric reasons for engagement.

Looking Through the Lens of Receptivity and Its Role in Bereavement Support

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 989-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pippa Blackburn ◽  
Pam McGrath ◽  
Caroline Bulsara
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Support Programs ◽  
Bereavement Support ◽  
Remote Locations ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Palliative Care Services

Receptivity is a new concept within the area of scholarship on bereavement. There is a dearth of research that specifically focuses on individuals’ receptivity in relation to bereavement support. This is particularly the case within the context of rural, regional, and remote locations. There is also a noticeable absence in the literature on bereavement support to Aboriginal families. Understanding receptivity in relation to bereavement in rural areas is important, particularly as bereavement support is an important area of service to the community by palliative care services. Receptivity to bereavement services has been identified as a critical factor in participation in bereavement support programs. This review provides a starting point by outlining the present literature on receptivity and bereavement.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing the Willingness of Palliative Care Utilization among the Older Population with Active Cancers: A Case Study in Mandalay, Myanmar

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7887
Author(s):  
Aye Tinzar Myint ◽  
Sariyamon Tiraphat ◽  
Isareethika Jayasvasti ◽  
Seo Ah Hong ◽  
Vijj Kasemsup
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Older Cancer Patients

Palliative care is an effective, multidisciplinary healthcare service to alleviate severe illness patients from physical, psychological, and spiritual pain. However, global palliative care has been underutilized, especially in developing countries. This cross-sectional survey aimed to examine the factors associated with older cancer patients’ willingness to utilize palliative care services in Myanmar. The final sample was composed of 141 older adults, 50-years of age and above who suffered from cancers at any stage. Simple random sampling was applied to choose the participants by purposively selecting three oncology clinics with daycare chemotherapy centers in Mandalay. We collected data using structured questionnaires composed of five sections. The sections include the participant’s socio-economic information, disease status, knowledge of palliative care, psychosocial and spiritual need, practical need, and willingness to utilize palliative care services. The study found that approximately 85% of older cancer patients are willing to receive palliative care services. The significant predictors of willingness to utilize palliative care services include place of living, better palliative care knowledge, more need for spiritual and psychosocial support, and practical support. This study can guide health policymakers in increasing the rate of palliative care utilization. The suggested policies include developing community-level palliative care services in Myanmar, especially in rural areas, promoting palliative care knowledge, applying appropriate religious and spiritual traditions at palliative treatment, and developing suitable medicines for the critically ill.

scholarly journals Advance care planning in palliative care: a national survey of health professionals and service managers

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Sellars ◽  
William Silvester ◽  
Malcolm Masso ◽  
Claire E. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
The Past ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Service Managers

Objective To identify the attitudes, knowledge and practices regarding advance care planning (ACP) in palliative care. Methods A nationwide online survey was distributed to Australian palliative care services associated with the Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (n = 105). Seventy-three health professionals (HPs) and 59 service managers completed the survey. Results Regarding ACP, 51% of service managers reported relevant policies and procedures were in place in their service and 44% included ACP in job descriptions. Most HPs were confident in undertaking ACP, including initiating discussions with patients and complying with documents; however, only 44% reported receiving ACP specific training. Although 58% of HPs reported having conversations about ACP with more than 11 patients in the past 6 months, only 44% of managers report that it is offered to most patients. Thirty per cent of HPs were aware of others not adhering to patient wishes in the past 6 months and only 43% of HPs (and 37% of managers) believed ACP is done well within their service. Conclusions This first national survey examining ACP in palliative care services demonstrates there is a need to improve systems to support ACP and to understand circumstances in which ACP wishes are not followed. What is known about the topic? ACP is increasingly recognised as an important part of care of people in hospital and community settings. However, currently there is no empirical evidence about the national uptake and quality of ACP in palliative care settings specifically. What does this paper add? This nationwide survey shows improvements on past small-scale research showing that ACP is supported by palliative care health professionals; however, the organisational ACP processes and systems did not support best practice in this regard. What are the implications for practitioners? Palliative care organisations should incorporate ACP systems (including greater access to ACP policies and guidelines) that support health professionals to complete ACP with clients who want to. Greater access to support, such as ACP training and resources, would assist with development of ACP documentation and adherence.

The Snog and Grog Club

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Kabel
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Day Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Life Threatening Illness ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
End Stage

The popularity of British hospice day care signals the expanding boundaries of palliative care beyond end-stage illness. In this article, I examine the ways hospice philosophy was interpreted and implemented in an outpatient day therapy setting run by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals. Findings suggest that hospice day care staff members used several strategies to help patients cope and retain a sense of personhood while facing numerous emotional and physical challenges associated with life-threatening illness. Health professionals in the United States will need to prepare for patients accessing hospice and palliative care services earlier in the illness trajectory to take advantage of these opportunities for patient support and advocacy.

Survey of bereavement support provided by Australian palliative care services

2008 ◽  
Vol 188 (4) ◽  
pp. 228-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A Mather ◽  
Phillip D Good ◽  
John D Cavenagh ◽  
Peter J Ravenscroft
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Bereavement Support ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services

Experiences of dying, death and bereavement in motor neurone disease: A qualitative study

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget Whitehead ◽  
Mary R O’Brien ◽  
Barbara A Jack ◽  
Douglas Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Motor Neurone ◽  
Motor Neurone Disease ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Advance Care

Objectives: to explore the experiences of people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), current and bereaved carers in the final stages of the disease and bereavement period. Methods: a qualitative study using narrative interviews was used to elicit accounts from 24 people with MND and 18 current family carers and 10 former family carers. Results: the needs of patients and carers are not being adequately met in the final stages of MND and there appears a need for increased, co-ordinated support from palliative care services. The use of advance care planning tools is regarded as beneficial for patients and carers, but health professionals demonstrate a limited understanding of them. Anxiety and distress in patients, carers and bereaved carers is heightened during this period. Carer burden is excessive and may exacerbate patient distress and desire for hastening death. Conclusion: this study has identified a number of issues people with MND and their carers face in the final stages of the illness, indicating some ways in which health, social and palliative care services could be improved or co-operate more effectively in order to better meet their needs.

Family caregivers voice their needs: A photovoice study

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 701-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Angelo ◽  
Richard Egan
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Physical Demands ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Care Health ◽  
Photovoice Methodology

AbstractObjective:Caregivers often are unprepared for their role yet serve as the frontline in the provision of palliative care services. The aim of our study was to explore family caregivers' experiences from their perspective as they cared for dying relatives.Method:Using the Photovoice methodology, ten unpaid family caregivers took photographs depicting issues they experienced as informal caregivers of an ill family member who had less than a year to live. Each participant met with the first author individually four to six times and explained their role as caregiver through photographs and stories.Results:The results were clustered into seven themes: physical demands, emotional/spiritual stress, preparing for the future, securing help, medication management, navigating the agencies, and relationships.Significance of results:Caregivers perform a variety of tasks, often under stress. This study highlights the main areas where problems lie and the areas that palliative care health professionals need to be aware of so they can assist and educate caregivers, with the goal of finding solutions to the burdens of care. The themes were found to be intertwined, showing the complexity of the caregiving role.

Users’ Views of Palliative Care Services: ethical implications

2000 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Woods ◽  
Kinta Beaver ◽  
Karen Luker
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Family ◽  
Palliative Care Services

This article is based on the findings of a study that elicited the views of terminally ill patients ( n = 15), their carers ( n = 10) and bereaved carers ( n = 19) on the palliative care services they received. It explores the range of ethical issues revealed by the data. Although the focus of the original study was on community services, the participants frequently commented on all aspects of their experience. They described some of its positive and negative aspects. Of concern was the reported lack of sensitivity to the role of the family among health professionals. The family, as carers, service users and advocates, represent a challenge to professional boundaries and the ethical norms of confidentiality and best interest. The accounts reveal the complexity of the ethical issues that characterize terminal care, issuing specific ethical challenges to nurses and other health professionals involved in this field.

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