The Bereavement Experience for Partners of Patients With Central Nervous System Tumors.
Meagan S Whisenant, Stacey Crane, Mackenzie Stewart and 1 others
PMID 35191902WHAT IT FOUND
Partners bereaved after a CNS tumor described caretaking tasks as consuming, feeling unprepared for rapid decline, and needing support into bereavement.
They regretted missed goodbyes and faced loneliness, finances, and household tasks.
Key findings
01Partners described needing greater support from the medical team and hospice at the patient's end of life, and ongoing support after death.
02Partners felt unprepared for rapid decline and active dying, and they regretted that caretaking tasks overshadowed meaningful goodbyes.
03After death, partners described loneliness and new responsibilities, including finances, household tasks, employment, and relocation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 8 of 11 bereaved partners were re-contacted, and all were from a small parent pilot trial, so the themes may not represent all partners of patients with CNS tumors. Interviews occurred 2 to 9 months after death, so they may not capture earlier or later bereavement experiences. The study was qualitative and did not test whether the couple-based mind-body intervention or wait-list control affected bereavement. Participants were English-speaking partners, and 6 of 8 were White non-Hispanic, so the themes may not apply broadly.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the mind-body intervention improved bereavement. This study only described the experiences of 8 bereaved partners, and it did not test whether the intervention caused the reported themes or outcomes.