Management model of caregiver's grief in a tertiary oncological center Hospice, from anticipatory mourning to condolence conversation: preliminary observations.

BACKGROUND

Bereavement is a crucial physiological process in palliative care; grief-processing disorders can be diagnosed at least 6 months after death and can have severe clinical or psychological consequences. This study aims to verify how adequate management of anticipatory mourning and condolence conversations can be protective in the early stages of grief.

METHODS

Patients and caregivers are supported by a multidisciplinary team through semi-structured interviews. In condolence conversations within one month of the death, we identify signs of psychological fragility that require support for adequate processing of the loss.

RESULTS

From the condolence conversations, only 2-4% of caregivers who had received psychological support during the hospital stay and showed a good level of acceptance of their relative's end of life exhibited grief problems within 1 month of death; none showed excessive avoidance of memories, difficulties with trust, or feelings of emotional loneliness.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the limitations, the preliminary data of our study clearly suggest the protective potential of multidisciplinary support, particularly in reducing the risk of developing grief processing disorders. These considerations encourage us to implement our model of clinical and psychological support systems and develop pathways dedicated to caregivers experiencing greater difficulty.