The nature and use of bereavement support services in a hospice setting.
This study formed part of a larger project designed to evaluate a hospice-based bereavement support service in Ireland. It involved a detailed assessment of the views of service attenders and non-attenders. A postal survey was administered to all bereaved clients who were invited to one or more bereavement support services (n = 517). Respondents (n = 243; 47%) completed: 1) a Bereavement Services Questionnaire; 2) a measure of grief reaction (TRIG) and 3) a measure of religiosity (SCSORF). A total of 243 people (47%) returned completed questionnaires, most of whom were satisfied with the service, (although not all had attended all elements of the bereavement service). However, a number of improvements were emphasised. Several statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) also emerged between service attenders and non-attenders with respect to grief reaction and other key factors (e.g., the age and relationship to the deceased). The findings emphasise the needs and views of both attenders and non-attenders and provide important lessons for the implementation and development of hospice-based bereavement support services.
Roberts
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Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. amandaroberts77@yahoo.com
McGilloway
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001601:Bereavement; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires