End of life and bereavement experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim results from a national survey of bereaved people

Harrop, Emily ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2820-0023, Selman, Lucy, Farnell, Damian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0662-1927, Byrne, Anthony, Nelson, Annmarie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6075-8425, Goss, Silvia, Sutton, Eileen, Seddon, Kathy, Machin, Linda, Penny, Alison, Roulston, Audrey, Carduff, Emma, Finucane, Anne, Smith, Kirsten V, Torrens Burton, Anna, Sivell, Stephanie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0253-1860, Mayland, Catriona, Wakefield, Donna, Johnston, Bridget and Longo, Mirella ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9867-3806 2021. End of life and bereavement experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim results from a national survey of bereaved people. Presented at: Palliative Care Congress 2021, Virtual, 25-26 March 2021. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care. , vol.11 (Supple) BMJ Publishing Group, A3. 10.1136/spcare-2021-PCC.6

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Abstract

Background COVID-19 represents a mass bereavement event, with 80,000+ excess UK deaths. The unprecedented clinical and social restrictions are potential risk factors for poor bereavement outcomes. This study investigates the bereavement experiences, support needs and support use of people bereaved during the pandemic.Methods Interim findings from the first round of a mixed methods longitudinal survey of people bereaved in the UK since 16March 2020. The survey was disseminated via media, social media, national associations and community/charitable organisations. Grief was assessed using the Adult Attitude to Grief Scale.Results 532 bereaved people participated (91% female). Place of death: hospital (55%), home (22%), care home (15%), hospice (5%); 46% of deaths were confirmed/suspected COVID-19. Experiences of end of life care varied: 23% were ‘never’ involved in decisions about their loved one’s care, 36% felt ‘not at all’ supported by healthcare professionals after the death, 51% were not provided with information about bereavement support. Respondents reported high levels of problems specific to the pandemic bereavement context (e.g. 56% unable to visit prior to death, 67% social isolation and loneliness). Over half of participants demonstrated ‘severe’ (28%) or ‘high’ (24%) levels of vulnerability in grief, and support needs were high/fairly high in six psycho-emotional domains (51% to 62%). COVID-19 deaths were associated with higher levels of bereavement problems (p<0.05), grief vulnerability (p<0.05) and support needs (P< 0.001) compared to other causes of death. 21% of those with ‘severe’ vulnerability were accessing individual counselling, compared with 23% overall. Barriers to accessing professional support included long waiting lists, lack of appropriate support, feeling uncomfortable asking for/not knowing how to access help. 41% reported difficulties getting support from family/friends.Conclusions People bereaved during the pandemic experience exceptionally difficult circumstances at the end of life and during bereavement, including unmet needs for social and professional support. We recommend improved communication with families at the end of life, enabling contact with patients as far as possible, and better support after a death. This includes increased information about and investment in bereavement support services as well as flexible ‘support bubble’ arrangements for the recently bereaved.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Dentistry Medicine
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:	2045-435X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	22 March 2021
Date of Acceptance:	31 January 2021
Last Modified:	04 Jan 2024 08:36
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/139989

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