Tolle S W, Bascom P B, Hickam D H, Benson J A
J Gen Intern Med. 1986 Sep-Oct;1(5):309-14. doi: 10.1007/BF02596210.
The authors evaluated the perceptions and adjustments of surviving spouses following patient deaths. Of 128 married patients dying in a university hospital in 1983, the surviving spouses of 105 (82%) were personally interviewed a year after the death. The physicians' perspectives were recorded through chart review. Half of all spouses had had no subsequent contact with the physicians who had cared for the decreased, and 55% of spouses still had unanswered questions regarding the death a year later. Survivors of unexpected deaths were found to be at high risk for poor subsequent adjustment. Spouses with poorer adjustments consulted their own physicians more frequently, and used more alcohol and tranquilizers. The results identify areas where improvement is needed in communication with surviving spouses after patients' deaths.
作者评估了患者死亡后幸存配偶的认知和调适情况。1983年在一所大学医院死亡的128名已婚患者中，105名（82%）的幸存配偶在患者去世一年后接受了个人访谈。通过查阅病历记录医生的观点。所有配偶中有一半在患者去世后没有与照料过逝者的医生有过后续联系，一年后仍有55%的配偶对患者的死亡存在未得到解答的疑问。意外死亡患者的幸存者被发现后续调适不良的风险很高。调适较差的配偶更频繁地咨询自己的医生，且饮酒和使用镇静剂更多。研究结果指出了患者死亡后与幸存配偶沟通方面需要改进的领域。
