Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia.
Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Primorska University, 6000 Koper, Slovenia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jun 25;20(13):6222. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20136222.
Death reporting is a delicate task. The ways in which it is carried out can have a significant impact on both the recipient and the notifier, especially in the event of a sudden, violent, and traumatic death. Empathetic, sensitive, and attentive communication with survivors can represent a first opportunity to support the bereavement process. The acquisition of specific skills for the delivery of the death notification is necessary for the professional who carries out the communication to increase self-efficacy, knowledge, and perception of competence in this area.
To map what the literature has produced on the theme of best practices for the notification of unexpected, violent, and traumatic deaths and to provide guidance for the formulation of appropriate best practices and the development of effective educational programs.
A review was conducted using the PRISMA Scoping Review extension on English language literature published between 1966 and 2022.
Starting from the initial 3781 titles, 67 articles were selected. From a thematic point of view, the analysis of the contents made it possible to identify five dimensions: (1) general guidelines in relation to various professional figures; (2) specific protocols; (3) guidelines for notifying death to children; (4) guidelines for notification of death by telephone; and (5) recommendations and suggestions for death notification training programs.
Death notification is configured as a process, divided into sequential phases. The act of notification constitutes the central phase during which communication is carried out. The communication of death is context-specific; therefore, it should require the creation of specific protocols for the various professions involved in the task, along with targeted theoretical and practical training.
The importance of defining specific guidelines for the various professionals and standardized programs of theoretical and practical training emerges. The implementation of future sectoral studies will allow evaluations of the effectiveness of these protocols and programs.
死亡报告是一项微妙的任务。报告的方式会对接收者和通知者产生重大影响，尤其是在突然、暴力和创伤性死亡的情况下。与幸存者进行富有同理心、敏感和关注的沟通，可以代表支持丧亲过程的第一个机会。为了提高沟通者在这方面的自我效能感、知识和能力感知，获得特定的死亡通知技能是必要的。
绘制文献中关于意外、暴力和创伤性死亡通知最佳实践主题的内容，并为制定适当的最佳实践和开发有效的教育计划提供指导。
使用 PRISMA 扩展范围综述方法，对 1966 年至 2022 年期间发表的英语文献进行了综述。
从最初的 3781 个标题中，选择了 67 篇文章。从主题分析的角度来看，对内容的分析确定了五个维度：（1）与各种专业人员有关的一般准则；（2）具体方案；（3）通知儿童死亡的准则；（4）电话通知死亡的准则；（5）死亡通知培训计划的建议和建议。
死亡通知被配置为一个过程，分为连续阶段。通知行为构成了沟通进行的核心阶段。死亡通知具有特定背景，因此，它应该需要为参与任务的各个专业人员创建特定的方案，并进行有针对性的理论和实践培训。
为各种专业人员定义特定准则和标准化理论和实践培训计划的重要性凸显出来。未来部门研究的实施将允许评估这些方案和计划的有效性。
