Parental Perspectives of the Grief and Bereavement Services Offered by a Pediatric Hospital (S764)

Abstract

1.Discuss how commonly bereavement resources reached families in the weeks to months following the death of their child, and how commonly families felt resources were helpful.2.Discuss common barriers to the receipt of bereavement resources provided by a children's hospital to bereaved parents. No best practice standard exists regarding services that should be offered by pediatric hospitals to bereaved families. A survey of pediatric chaplains found that while bereavement care is considered “a moral obligation,” services are often insufficient for grieving families. Our goal was to evaluate the grief/bereavement services offered by a pediatric hospital, from the perspective of bereaved parents. Parents of children who died between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011 were identified through pastoral and palliative care databases. Children who died of non-accidental trauma were excluded. Initial recruitment was by letter, which included an “opt out card” to decline further contact. Participants were then recruited by telephone for a 16-question survey. Topics included parental expectations of the hospital for bereavement care, whether and how often they were contacted, whether they attended a hospital-sponsored memorial service, and whether materials were helpful. 120 children died in the time period studied; 29 were excluded and 91 parents were contacted by mail.6 declined further contact, 85 were contacted by phone. 81% of those reached agreed to participate. 48% of participants expected to receive bereavement materials; 76% were contacted within six weeks of the death. 59% felt that materials were helpful but only 28% attended a hospital-sponsored remembrance ceremony. Two-thirds requested more bereavement materials at the time of the call. Parents expect to receive bereavement materials from the hospital which cared for their decedent child; most families feel that such materials are helpful. Most families requested more resources despite it being over a year since the death.