title: Identifying and responding to ethical and methodological issues in after-death interviews with next-of-kin.
abstract: After-death research with next-of-kin can enhance our understanding of end-of-life care and translate into better services for dying persons and their survivors. This article describes ethical and methodological issues that emerged in a pilot of a face-to-face interview guide designed to elicit next-of-kin's perceptions of end-of-life care. The pilot study was part of a larger Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research protocol to improve end-of-life care in VA Medical Centers. By deconstructing the research process from an ethical perspective and engaging in critical self-assessment, the authors aim to inform other researchers of potential problems involved in after-death research with next-of-kin.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 700 South 19th Street, 11-G, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. beverly.williams3@va.gov
authors.forename: Beverly R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Lesa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Woodby
authors.forename: F Amos
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Burgio
mesh_terms: D003643:Death; D032984:Ethics, Research; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010166:Palliative Care; D012107:Research Design; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000941:ethics*; D012380:Role; D013727:Terminal Care; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans