Death studies
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Grief research has typically centered on one time point, without considering the impact of multiple losses over time. In this study, 546 bereaved emerging adults were divided into three groups: those who experienced a recent loss (0-2 years ago), a past loss (>2 years ago), or a combination of both recent and past losses. ⋯ Those who had experienced both losses (recent and past) and recent losses endorsed significantly more grief symptoms than those in the past loss group. Findings highlight how multiple losses impact grief.
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This study evaluated whether psychache (i.e., mental pain) mediates the association between general distress, assessed as the frequency and the intensity of psychological symptoms in the previous week, and suicide ideation in community adults. For a sample of 202 adults, psychache fully mediated the relationship between suicide ideation and the frequency of psychological symptoms, and partially mediated the relationship between suicide ideation and the intensity of psychological symptoms. As such, mental pain fully or partially explains the process linking the frequency and the intensity of general distress to suicide ideation and, thus, mental pain is a target for potential intervention.
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Spiritual care is vital for holistic care and dying with dignity. The aim of this study was to determine nurses' perceptions of spiritual care and their attitudes toward dying with dignity. This study was conducted with 289 nurses working at a public hospital. ⋯ First, spiritual care perceptions and attitudes toward dying with dignity were more positive in female participants than in male participants. Second, there was a correlation between participants' education levels and their perceptions of spiritual care. Third, there was also a correlation between participants' attitudes toward dying with dignity and their perceptions of spiritual care.
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The appropriateness of attending a patient's funeral is a medical dilemma. This article focuses on 437 doctors who participated in an online survey. ⋯ Significant differences in demographics and between specialties were identified in terms of barriers and benefits associated with attendance. Although attendance is a personal decision, there is a need for open discussions in medical education and professional development concerning death and the role of doctors after a patient dies.
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Septic shock is a disease with both high prevalence and mortality. Few studies have evaluated the quality of dying and death (QODD) in patients with septic shock. The authors compared the QODD of patients who died of septic shock versus other causes. ⋯ Residents rated septic patients with lower QODD-1 scores than nonseptic patients (Δ 0.8 points, p = 0.03). This study shows that nurses rate patients with septic shock as having lower QODD than patients dying of other causes. These findings are important for clinicians who counsel families of patients dying of septic shock.