Nurse-Led Bereavement Support During the Time of Hospital Visiting Restrictions Imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Qualitative Study of Family Members' Experiences.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: This study aims to explore the experiences of bereaved family members during and after the loss of a relative in an intensive care unit (ICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic-related visitation restrictions, as well as to assess their perceptions of a nurse-led bereavement support programme. Methods: Ten participants with a relative who had died in an ICU were recruited in September 2020 during a follow-up bereavement meeting at a tertiary cardiac centre in Switzerland. Descriptive qualitative research was conducted. Face-to-face nurse-led follow-up bereavement meetings, adapted to the pandemic circumstances and conducted as semi-structured interviews, were analysed by a thematic analysis. Findings: Fifteen sub-themes and three main categories were identified.

SUBMITTER: Villa M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12299844 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature