Lord Ailsa J, Field Stephen, Smith Ian C
Later Life Community Mental Health Team, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
Adult Community Learning Disability Service, Fylde & Wyre, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Wesham, UK.
J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2017 Nov;30(6):1007-1021. doi: 10.1111/jar.12376. Epub 2017 Jul 12.
Historically, people with intellectual disabilities have tended to be excluded from knowing about death, dying and bereavement. Staff in intellectual disability services can play a valuable role in improving understanding of these issues in those they support. This qualitative metasynthesis aimed to understand the experiences of staff supporting adults with intellectual disabilities with issues of death, dying and bereavement.
Thirteen papers were identified following a systematic review of six databases.
Three themes were developed following a lines-of-argument synthesis: (i) talking about death is hard: negotiating the uncertainty in death, dying and bereavement; (ii) the commitment to promoting a "good death"; and (iii) the grief behind the professional mask. "A cautious silence: The taboo of death" was an overarching theme.
A more open culture around issues of death, dying and bereavement in intellectual disability settings is essential and could be promoted through staff training and support.
从历史上看，智障人士往往被排除在了解死亡、临终和丧亲之痛的范围之外。智障服务机构的工作人员在增进他们所支持的人群对这些问题的理解方面可以发挥重要作用。这项质性元综合研究旨在了解支持成年智障人士应对死亡、临终和丧亲问题的工作人员的经历。
在对六个数据库进行系统综述后，确定了13篇论文。
通过论点综合分析得出了三个主题：（i）谈论死亡很困难：应对死亡、临终和丧亲中的不确定性；（ii）致力于促进“善终”；（iii）职业面具背后的悲痛。“谨慎的沉默：死亡的禁忌”是一个总体主题。
在智障环境中，围绕死亡、临终和丧亲问题营造一种更加开放的文化至关重要，可通过工作人员培训和支持来加以推动。
