title: Characteristics of the grieving process: a pilot study of 10 Korean spouses of patients who passed away from cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the characteristics of the grieving process of Korean spouses who lost their partner to cancer. Five women and five men were recruited by convenience sampling from surviving spouses attending a follow up program at a hospice center in Seoul, Korea. In-depth interviews, observation, and instruments on grief stage and grief responses were used to collect data. Interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, and analyzed line by line to discover recurrent patterns and themes. Gender differences were noted for grief responses (physical, cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual) and factors influencing grief.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Yonsei University, C.P.O. Box 8044, Seoul, Republic of Korea. leewhn508@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
authors.forename: Won-Hee
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012737:Sex Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*