Texas Revised Inventory Of Grief Research Articles

Investigation of grief and posttraumatic growth related to patient loss in pediatric intensive care nurses: a cross-sectional study

Background and aimPediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) are clinical settings where patient loss is frequently experienced. A sense of professional grief and posttraumatic growth in nurses who have experienced patient loss has a significant impact on psychological and physical health, work satisfaction, turnover rates, as well as on personal and professional relations, and employee loyalty. The aim of this study was to investigate grief and posttraumatic growth in PICU nurses and to examine related factors.MethodsThe study is of cross-sectional design and was conducted with 200 nurses who were working in 87 PICU’s around Turkey during the period March 30 - June 30, 2021. Data were collected with a Descriptive Information Form, the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and an open-ended question asking for suggestions as to how nurses can cope with loss. Online questionnaires were used in the data collection. Descriptive statistics, the student t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and post-hoc tests were employed in the analysis of the data.ResultsThe nurses’ mean scores were 49.425 ± 10.868 on TRIG and 61.450 ± 24.934 on PTGI. A negative weak correlation was found between the intensity of the nurses’ grief and their posttraumatic growth (r = 0.144, p = 0.041). Receiving training on dealing with a patient’s terminal stage (t=-2.688, p = 0.001), feeling comfortable about providing the patient’s care (t = 2.624, p = 0.009) and providing the family with emotional support during patient care (t = 1.979, p = 0.049), and the presence of supporting health professionals reduced levels of grief (t = 2.797, p = 0.000). Being a woman (t = 3.299, p = 0.001), willingness to work in the unit (t=-3.219, p = 0.002), and being given enough time to accept the loss (t = 3.986, p = 0.000) were correlated with higher levels of posttraumatic growth. The nurses most commonly wanted more time allotted to recuperate after a loss (n = 35) and professional support (n = 22).ConclusionsNurses experience a moderate sense of grief after a patient’s loss. As levels of grief decrease, posttraumatic growth increases. Healthcare administrators and future researchers can benefit from these findings when planning supportive interventions to help nurses cope with their feelings of grief and achieve posttraumatic growth.Strengths and limitationsA limitation of the study is that it was conducted only with nurses who were Association members.

Associations between informal care costs, care quality, carer rewards, burden and subsequent grief: the international, access, rights and empowerment mortality follow-back study of the last 3\xa0months of life (IARE I study)

BackgroundAt the end of life, formal care costs are high. Informal care (IC) costs, and their effects on outcomes, are not known. This study aimed to determine the IC costs for older adults in the last 3 months of life, and their relationships with outcomes, adjusting for care quality.MethodsMortality follow-back postal survey.Setting: Palliative care services in England (London), Ireland (Dublin) and the USA (New York, San Francisco).Participants: Informal carers (ICrs) of decedents who had received palliative care.Data: ICrs reported hours and activities, care quality, positive aspects and burdens of caregiving, and completed the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG).Analysis: All costs (formal, informal) were calculated by multiplying reported hours of activities by country-specific costs for that activity. IC costs used country-specific shadow prices, e.g. average hourly wages and unit costs for nursing care. Multivariable logistic regression analysis explored the association of potential explanatory variables, including IC costs and care quality, on three outcomes: positive aspects and burdens of caregiving, and subsequent grief.ResultsWe received 767 completed surveys, 245 from London, 282 Dublin, 131 New York and 109 San Francisco. Most respondents were women (70%); average age was 60 years. On average, patients received 66–76 h per week from ICrs for ‘being on call’, 52–55 h for ICrs being with them, 19–21 h for personal care, 17–21 h for household tasks, 15–18 h for medical procedures and 7–10 h for appointments. Mean (SD) IC costs were as follows: USA $32,468 (28,578), England $36,170 (31,104) and Ireland $43,760 (36,930). IC costs accounted for 58% of total (formal plus informal) costs. Higher IC costs were associated with less grief and more positive perspectives of caregiving. Poor home care was associated with greater caregiver burden.ConclusionsCosts to informal carers are larger than those to formal care services for people in the last three months of life. If well supported ICrs can play a role in providing care, and this can be done without detriment to them, providing that they are helped. Improving community palliative care and informal carer support should be a focus for future investment.

Grief Experiences in Response to the Death of a Significant Other among Undergraduates of University of Jos, Nigeria

This study investigates grief experiences in response to loss of a significant other among undergraduates inUniversity of Jos, Nigeria adopting an ex post facto survey. A total of 45 students (27 males and 18 females) withmean age of 20 and half years completed the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG). Three hypotheses weretested using a two way ANOVA (Amos SPSS 21) analysis, results showed significant differences on the main effectof Nature of Relationship (NoR) (F (1,39)=1062.08, p=0.00); with a large effect size (partial eta squared=0.90), butnot for Type of Death (ToD) (F (2,39)=1.60, p=0.21) and interaction effect (NoR*ToD) (F (2,39)=0.93, p=0.40) at thesignificant level of p ≤ 0.05.Comparisonsof the mean grief score for the intimate group (M=81.62, SD=6.71) alsoindicated to significantly differ from the Non-intimate group (M=27.33, SD=4.11). The import of this result is thatmajority of students experience grief at moderate and high levels particularly to a significant other they have intimaterelationship with before death. It is concluded that the NoR between deceased and bereaved student is a gooddeterminant of grief experiences. Recommendations are made to students to learn how to respond appropriately tobereavement to avoid complications, and education stakeholders of young people to intensify bereavementeducation and support in order to prevent adverse change in health and functioning.

Bereaved family members\u2019 perceptions of the quality of end-of-life care across four types of inpatient care settings

BackgroundThe aims of this study were to gain a better understanding of how bereaved family members perceive the quality of EOL care by comparing their satisfaction with quality of end-of-life care across four different settings and by additionally examining the extent to which demographic characteristics and psychological variables (resilience, optimism, grief) explain variation in satisfaction.MethodsA cross-sectional mail-out survey was conducted of bereaved family members of patients who had died in extended care units (n = 63), intensive care units (n = 30), medical care units (n = 140) and palliative care units (n = 155). 1254 death records were screened and 712 bereaved family caregivers were identified as eligible, of which 558 (who were initially contacted by mail and then followed up by phone) agreed to receive a questionnaire and 388 returned a completed questionnaire (response rate of 70%). Measures included satisfaction with end-of-life care (CANHELP- Canadian Health Care Evaluation Project - family caregiver bereavement version; scores range from 0 = not at all satisfied to 5 = completely satisfied), grief (Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG)), optimism (Life Orientation Test – Revised) and resilience (The Resilience Scale). ANCOVA and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the data.ResultsFamily members experienced significantly lower satisfaction in MCU (mean = 3.69) relative to other settings (means of 3.90 [MCU], 4.14 [ICU], and 4.00 [PCU]; F (3371) = 8.30, p = .000). Statistically significant differences were also observed for CANHELP subscales of “doctor and nurse care”, “illness management”, “health services” and “communication”. The regression model explained 18.9% of the variance in the CANHELP total scale, and between 11.8% and 27.8% of the variance in the subscales. Explained variance in the CANHELP total score was attributable to the setting of care and psychological characteristics of family members (44%), in particular resilience.ConclusionFindings suggest room for improvement across all settings of care, but improving quality in acute care and palliative care should be a priority. Resiliency appears to be an important psychological characteristic in influencing how family members appraise care quality and point to possible sites for targeted intervention.

The effect of bereavement groups on grief, anxiety, and depression - a controlled, prospective intervention study.

AbstactBackgroundBereavement groups are believed to be beneficial as preventive interventions to reduce the development of complicated grief for people at risk after the death of a significant other. This study aimed to investigate whether measurable effects on grief, anxiety, and depression could be detected in those participating in bereavement groups compared to non-participating controls.MethodsQuestionnaires covering the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and background questions were handed out pre-intervention, five weeks and one year post-intervention to bereaved caregivers invited to bereavement groups. The results were analysed with non-parametric methods.ResultsA total of 124 individuals answered the questionnaires, and were divided into three categories: participants, non-participants unable to participate, and non-participants not wanting to participate in bereavement groups. At the one-year follow up, participants and those unable to participate reported higher levels of grief and were more anxious than those not wanting to participate. Depression did not differ between the groups.ConclusionsParticipation in bereavement groups did not produce any effects on grief, anxiety, or depression in comparison to non-participants who were unable to participate. Non-participants who did not want to participate reported lower levels of grief and anxiety than the other two groups.

Diagnosis of Complicated Grief Using the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, Brazilian Portuguese Version

Background: Complicated grief is characterized by persistent yearning for the deceased, intense sorrow and emotional pain in response to death causing significant distress. Complicated grief is often under recognized and undertreated. The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG) is a questionnaire that has been demonstrated to have high validity and reliability in the assessment of grief. Our objective was to translate, adapt, and validate the TRIG to Brazilian Portuguese and to verify whether the TRIG, in a bereaved population, is able to distinguish between those with and those without complicated grief and to identify which elements in the scale contribute to this. Methods: Two stages: a) cross-culture adaptation of a questionnaire, and b) cross-sectional study of reliability and validity. Setting and Participants: 165 adult patients were recruited from a) the Grief Outpatient Clinic at the Department and Institute of Psychiatry - University of Sao Paulo, b) private practice at the same department, and c) co-workers who have lost a loved one. All the patients were interviewed with the TRIG. According to clinical criteria69 of 165 bereaved patients were presenting complicated grief. Results: Cross-culture adaptation: the TRIG was translated from American English, then back-translated and finally compared with the Brazilian Portuguese version by two bilingual psychiatrists. Reliability: the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients (internal consistency) of the TRIG scales were 0,735 (part I) and 0,896 (part II). Sensitivity, specificity as well as cutoff points to identify complicated and noncomplicated grief, were measured using the ROC curve. Using the total score of 104 (part I + part II + Part III + psychographics variables), we can correctly classify 71.3% of individuals with and without complicated grief. The construct validity was assessed by factor analysis and confirmatory analysis. Furthermore, by logistic regression, our study demonstrated that a low education level, age of the deceased and age of the bereaved, loss of a son or daughter, and unexpected death were all risk factors for complicated grief. Our results also suggest that religion may influence complicated grief. Conclusion: The TRIG adapted to Brazilian Portuguese is as reliable and valid as the original version. In the evaluation of Brazilian bereaved, it was able to distinguish individuals with and without complicated grief. And, we suggest a cut-off value of 104 for complicated grief.

Reliability generalization of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG)

ABSTRACTWhile grief is a universal experience, this phenomenon is experienced in a variety of ways largely dependent upon one’s cultural schema. To consider the potential problems inherent in generalizing the results of an assessment tool across cultures, this study explores the notion of generalizability in assessment by evaluating the reliability of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG) using a meta-analytic technique called reliability generalization. The TRIG demonstrated strong reliability with mean Cronbach’s alphas of .90 and .82 for the present and past subscales, respectively. Overall, the TRIG, especially the present subscale, appears to produce reliable scores even across cultures.

The influence of caregiver burden on bereavement outcomes of spousal and adult-child family caregivers of patients who have died of cancer.

49 Background: Family caregivers (FCs) provide unpaid care to patients, outside of a formal framework. A demographic imperative currently exists to allow patients to be cared for in their own homes. FCs are a vital part of this support. However, their needs, and the burden of caregiving, are often under-recognised. Challenges facing FCs, in particular adult-child FCs, include a need to combine paid employment and other family commitments with caregiving. Negative consequences associated with caregiving include a higher risk of complicated grief in bereavement. Aims: To describe and compare the bereavement outcomes of spousal and adult-child FCs of patients who died of cancer, and to evaluate the factors of care associated with adverse bereavement outcomes for each FC group. Methods: Secondary data analysis was performed of data regarding bereavement outcomes, as measured by the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG) scores of participants in the QUALYCARE study – a mortality follow-back study of FCs. Results: 484 caregiver-patient dyads were included: 246 adult-child FCs and 238 spousal FCs. Spousal FCs were older (68.4 vs. 50.7 years, p < 0.001). Caregiving intensity was similar in both groups of FCs, but adult-child FCs were more likely to continue working outside the home while caregiving (χ2, p < 0.001). Patients with adult-child FCs were more likely to die in a nursing home than those with a spousal FC (p < 0.001). Grief intensity was highest in spousal FCs whose relative had died in hospital or a nursing home, and lowest in adult-child FCs whose relative had died in a nursing home (n = 31, p < 0.001). Caregiver burden predicted 11.6% of variance in grief intensity for adult-child FCs vs. 0.5% for spousal FCs. Conclusions: Caregiving burden has particular implications for adult- child FCs as compared to spousal FCs, in terms of bereavement outcomes. Role strain describes overlapping responsibilities with simultaneous family roles. The risk of complicated grief may be modifiable through ensuring the provision of practical supports, as well as psychological support for the caregiver, and the excellent management of both physical and psychological symptoms experienced by the patient.

Perceived role in end-of-life decision making in the NICU affects long-term parental grief response

BackgroundShared decision making (DM) is increasingly advocated as the most appropriate model to support parents confronted with end-of-life (EoL) decisions for a child in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)....

Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Cross-Cultural Examination of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG)

Grief is an important psychological response to loss and it is frequently encountered by clients served in diverse areas of social work practice. Despite its importance, little is known about the different aspects of grief that clients experience and the degree to which these dimensions are consistent across White and minority groups. This study examined the dimensionality of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG) and its stability across minority and non-minority individuals using confirmatory factor analysis. The findings highlight the multidimensionality of grief across diverse client groups, hold important implications for social work practice, and point to the utility of the TRIG for rapidly assessing grief in a variety of social work practice settings.

Health care professionals' grief after the death of a child

To evaluate the intensity of grief experienced by health care professionals (HPs) after the death of a child, to explore factors associated with a memorable death (defined as an unforgettable child's death that has touched them in their career) and to identify the needs of HPs. A cross-sectional study was performed to assess emotional reactions, coping strategies and perceived needs of paediatric HPs in a general hospital. One hundred one HPs (46 nurses, 22 paediatric physicians, 11 paediatric residents, 13 respiratory therapists and nine 'others') completed the questionnaire. The level of grief experienced by HPs after a memorable death was intense. Respiratory therapists showed the highest mean (± SD) intensity of grief after a memorable death versus other HPs, as measured by the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG) (29±15 versus 16±14; P=0.002). Younger HPs (20 to 25 years of age) reported higher early grief intensity than older ones (older than 50 years of age) (22±16 versus 10±8; P=0.01). There was no significant association between the TRIG score and an HP being a parent, having received palliative care training or the length of his/her relationship with the child and family. Seventy per cent of HPs spoke with their colleagues after the death of a child and 48% with family and friends. Many participants (37%) believed that this social support helped them the most. Grief after a child's death is intense for HPs. This emotional intensity and difference between professions raises issues about the emotional support received following the death of a patient.

Études sur le deuil. Méthodes qualitatives et méthodes quantitatives

Bereavement, grief and mourning (due to the loss of a significant person) are universal experiences. They have emerged as an important topic for scientific studies focused on losses and their consequences, studies of the attachment that precedes losses, and studies of other types of psychological trauma. Defined as a non-mental disorder (DSM IV, ICD 10), normal grief in International Classifications of Mental Diseases is now distinguished from pathological grief, i.e. complicated or traumatic (which amounts to 20 % of bereavements ?). Intensive empirical studies have been conducted in English-speaking countries as opposed to the psychodynamic Freudian and intuitive approaches in French literature. Scientific studies require several types of methods, usually quantitative approaches with the use of rating scales specially designed to measure the many symptoms of grief. There are many of these instruments, but almost none of them have been validated and compared to others. Only the TRIG (Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, Faschingbauer et al, 1987) has been translated and validated in French. The ICG (Inventory of Complicated Grief, Prigerson et al, 1995) is supposed to be a dimensional scale to discriminate complicated (traumatic) grief with a threshold (the cut-off point separating normal and traumatic grief). The ICG has been translated in French, validated and compared to the TRIG. Based essentially on the work of Prigerson, Jacobs and the Yale school ; Niemeyer and Hogan ; and the Japanese Tomita T., Kitamura T. ; we have reviewed the most useful and studied scals (TRIG, GEI, CBI, ICG). There are also qualitative studies of bereavement, based on the pure description of the mourning person, on content analysis, on the focus group method, on ethnography, on studies for cultural interpretation (cultural patterning) and finally on case studies. Bereavement, grief and mourning, although often very painful, are not pathological processes. The distress and the suffering, the depressive and anxious symptoms and behaviour specific of the process are usually transient. The quantitative psychopathology required for research can help the clinician to follow the course of the mourning process and, ideally, pinpoint the patient at risk of complicated (traumatic) grief. The scales should be reliable, validated and user-friendly. Many studies, in this clinical area, have used two types of methodology, qualitative and quantitative. Clinical research looks for the classical psychopathological disorders (depression, anxiety disorders, stress, psychological trauma etc.) and more recently symptoms and behaviour supposedly specific of grief and mourning. Several rating scales have been designed in order to assess the presence and intensity of the specific components of grief. This is a critical review of the methodologies used in this domain.

Screening for Complicated Grief: When Less May Provide More

This study aimed to discover screening questions for initial assessments of psychiatric outpatients to identify which patients are likely experiencing complicated grief (CG). We examined the responses of 235 outpatients to questionnaire items. One set came from the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG). This set represented events cited in clinical literature as indicators or risk factors for CG. Another set came from a factor analysis of items that define CG. We determined relations between items and CG, analyzed sensitivity and specificity, and compared the 2 sets of items. The factor analysis items were superior. The 2 best items correctly identified nearly 90% of patients with and without CG. The items can be transformed into screening questions to be used in initial interviews.

Inventario Texas Revisado de Duelo (ITRD): adaptación al castellano, fiabilidad y validez

To adapt into Spanish the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG) of Faschinbaguer et al (1977, 1981) and to examine its reliability and validity.Two stages: a) cross-culture adaptation of a questionnaire, and b) cross-sectional study of reliability and validity.Primary care teams in Vizcaya, north of Spain.118 people who had been widowed between 3 months and 3 years before the study.Cross-culture adaptation: the TRIG was translated from American English, then back-translated and finally compared with the version in American Spanish by Grabowski & Frantz (1993). Reliability: the Cronbach's alpha coefficients (internal consistency) of the 2 TRIG scales were 0.75 and 0.86. Factorial validity: all items except one threw saturation >0.40 on the 2 factors extracted from the varimax rotation. Validity by hypothesis: the TRIG scales showed differences (P<.05) between the grieving in terms of the expected or unexpected character of death, the place where death occurred and time elapsed since the death. The scores on the adapted TRIG were similar to scores on the American Spanish TRIG for Latins and higher than those on the original TRIG and the American Spanish TRIG for Anglo-saxons. Convergent validity: the 2 TRIG scales correlated positively (P<.05) with all the clinical scales on the Inventory of Grief Experiences of Sanders et al (1985) and García García et al (2001).In the evaluation of grief due to the death of the spouse, the TRIG adapted to Spanish is as reliable and valid as the original version.

Patterns of Complicated Grief among Bereaved Parents

This study assessed patterns of grief reactions and their adaptiveness, among bereaved parents, who had lost an adult child during military service. The prevalence of the various reactions and their associations with psychosocial adjustment and risk-related factors were examined. Eighty-five bereaved parents filled out a battery of questionnaires 2.5 years after their loss. Type of grief reaction (absence, delayed, prolonged, and resolved) was identified utilizing the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TIG). In addition, psychiatric symptomatology, psychosocial functioning, and sociodemographic background were examined. Results indicated that prolonged grief reactions and absence of grief were the most prevalent variants. Absent and delayed grief reactions were associated with lower levels of psychosocial adjustment compared with prolonged grief reaction. Level of education, religious attitudes, and the circumstances of the loss were associated with the type of grief reaction. The findings of this study demonstrate the complexity of defining certain reactions as complicated. The identification of absence of grief and delayed grief reactions as being complicated is supported, but the inclusion of prolonged grief reaction as a complicated maladaptive reaction should be reconsidered.

Factors Affecting Grief Reactions in Close Family Members to Individuals Who Have Died of Cancer

This longitudinal study examined factors related to grief reactions in a systematic and standardized way in 183 close family members to individuals who died of cancer. Grief reactions were measured using the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG). A repeated measures MANOVA was used to test and compare the grief reactions of the bereaved for one year after the loss. The female respondents showed stronger grief reactions than the male respondents. The grief reactions increased with age, and those who had lost a younger family member experienced stronger grief reactions than those who had lost an older family member. The relationship to the deceased, the duration of the disease, place of death, aspects of social support such as children living at home, and employment were not related to the grief reactions in the bereaved respondents when controlling for the former factors.

Expectancy of Spousal Death and Adjustment to Conjugal Bereavement

Previous findings on the role of expectancy of spousal death in adjustment to bereavement are inconclusive due to methodological shortcomings. This study examined the impact of subjective and objective expectancy on adjustment, while addressing the methodological problems of previous studies. At six months postbereavement, 97 midlife bereaved adults responded to interview questions regarding expectancy of their spouse's death. They also completed the Beck Depression Inventory and Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, at 6, 13, and 25 months postbereavement. Greater objective expectancy was associated with lower symptoms at all three postbereavement periods. Subjective expectancy was not related to symptoms, however. The clinical implications of objective expectancy's role on bereavement-related adjustment are addressed.

Predictors of dropout and burnout in AIDS volunteers: A longitudinal study

Burnout among HIV/AIDS volunteers contributes to the loss of dedicated personnel resulting in strain on the HIV/AIDS care system. Past research has suggested that there were significant stresses and burnout associated with AIDS caregiving. We investigated the predictors of dropout in AIDS volunteers over time, and specifically, which of the variables of the stressors and rewards of being a volunteer (collected at baseline) predicted who would drop out two years later. The volunteers were the subjects of Nesbitt et al. (1996), who were members of an interfaith religious-based organization in Houston, Texas. The subjects were re-contacted by mail after two years, and 76 of the 174 respondents completed a brief questionnaire which gave details of current volunteering activity, reasons for dropout (if they had dropped out) and completed the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG). Forty dropped-out from volunteering while 36 continued. Data show the independent variables of total stressor score, the Maslach Burnout Inventory score of Depersonalization intensity and the three subscale scores involving stress: client problems and role ambiguity, emotional overload and organizational factors as being significant in predicting dropout in HIV/AIDS volunteers over time. The best predictors of the dropping-out of HIV/AIDS volunteers can be divided into the stresses (client problems and role ambiguity, emotional overload and organizational factors) and depersonalization intensity. The results showed that volunteers who experienced more client problems and role ambiguity, more emotional overload and more problems with organizational factors are more likely to drop out from the volunteer programme. They also show that the dropout volunteers have a significantly higher level of depersonalization intensity than the continuing volunteers, with the risk of dropout increasing by almost a third in the highest tertile of depersonalization intensity scorers compared with those with lower scores. These data indicate that it is the stressors of AIDS volunteering, including the intensity of depersonalization, which lead to dropout, and that rewards do not appear to have a protective effect.

Screening to predict complicated grief in spouses of cancer patients.

Grief is the expected reaction to the death of a family member or close friend and is accompanied by substantial distress for almost everyone who experiences it. For some the grief response becomes complicated. This pilot study sought to identify individuals at high risk for complicated grief, by 1) examining the relationships that exist between family functioning before the death, psychological distress, and the grief reaction of a family after the death, and 2) presenting the use of screening with standardized measures to identify those at risk. This pilot study examined the relationships between family functioning, psychological distress, and grief reaction. A cross-sectional design was used and the instrument included the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES III), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG). Significant relationships were identified between the level of family functioning, psychological distress and grief reaction. Depression, anxiety, and general distress were significantly correlated with the two subscales of the TRIG. The findings clearly illustrate the merit of psychosocial screening of spouses and suggest the possible benefits of screening before the patient's death, using FACES III and the BSI to identify which spouses are at risk for complicated grief reactions.

Length of Cancer Patients’ Stay at a Hospice: Does it Affect Psychological Adjustment to the Loss of the Spouse?

The relationship is examined between the length of stay of 134 cancer patients at a hospice and the subsequent adjustment to loss by their spouses. Regression analysis found no significant correlation between the independent variables of length of hospice stay, gender, duration of time spent bedridden, time elapsed since death, and year of diagnosis and the dependent variables of psychological adjustment by their surviving spouses as assessed by the brief symptom inventory (BSI), the psychosocial adjustment to physical illness scale (PAIS), and the Texas revised inventory of grief (TRIG) scale. An analysis of covariance, however, found that a short hospice stay (1-7 days) had a beneficial effect on the spouse's bereavement compared to a long stay (8+ days).