“You May Not Appreciate This Now, But You May Later”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact and Meaning of Legacy Interventions as Defined by Bereaved Parents

The death of a child is a significant event that affects the family system. Families of dying children need comprehensive support to help them cope with their trauma and loss. However, there is little research that examines parental preferences and grieving support needs. This study explored bereave...

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Main Authors: Stephanie Barta, Cassandra Matz, Stephany Griswold, Foster Rosemund, Caroline Boyd, Sarah Scott, Eileen Auer Bennett, Jennifer Staab
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Beryl Institute 2024-11-01
Series:Patient Experience Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pxjournal.org/journal/vol11/iss3/9
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author Stephanie Barta
Cassandra Matz
Stephany Griswold
Foster Rosemund
Caroline Boyd
Sarah Scott
Eileen Auer Bennett
Jennifer Staab
author_facet Stephanie Barta
Cassandra Matz
Stephany Griswold
Foster Rosemund
Caroline Boyd
Sarah Scott
Eileen Auer Bennett
Jennifer Staab
author_sort Stephanie Barta
collection DOAJ
description The death of a child is a significant event that affects the family system. Families of dying children need comprehensive support to help them cope with their trauma and loss. However, there is little research that examines parental preferences and grieving support needs. This study explored bereaved parent mentors' perspectives on legacy interventions to identify preferences and guide best practices for legacy interventions provided by pediatric staff. Legacy interventions can be defined as a practice that encourages families to process, create, and reflect on their experiences, stories, and memories. Six parents whose child died ≥2 years ago and who volunteered as parent mentors at a USA children's hospital's parent mentor program participated in focus groups. Participants were asked open-ended questions related to the patient/family's experience at end of life, including legacy intervention provisions. Focus groups were video recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Similar ideas and categories were grouped to generate preliminary categories for coding. Codes were analyzed to identify central themes. Data analysis yielded three themes: 1) Types and Functions of Legacy Items/Activities, 2) Meaningfulness of Legacy Items/Activities, and 3) Process of Providing Legacy Items/Activities. Legacy interventions were reported as meaningful to participants because they connect them to their child, the treating hospital, and other bereaved families. To improve care for families whose child has a serious/terminal illness, professionals should be cognizant of the family's perception of legacy interventions and collaborate with the family's most trusted staff to help discuss and provide legacy interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-a7f25d5448ed4c61920760aa79b917a22025-01-08T20:21:43ZengThe Beryl InstitutePatient Experience Journal2372-02472024-11-0111310.35680/2372-0247.1901“You May Not Appreciate This Now, But You May Later”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact and Meaning of Legacy Interventions as Defined by Bereaved ParentsStephanie BartaCassandra MatzStephany GriswoldFoster RosemundCaroline BoydSarah ScottEileen Auer BennettJennifer StaabThe death of a child is a significant event that affects the family system. Families of dying children need comprehensive support to help them cope with their trauma and loss. However, there is little research that examines parental preferences and grieving support needs. This study explored bereaved parent mentors' perspectives on legacy interventions to identify preferences and guide best practices for legacy interventions provided by pediatric staff. Legacy interventions can be defined as a practice that encourages families to process, create, and reflect on their experiences, stories, and memories. Six parents whose child died ≥2 years ago and who volunteered as parent mentors at a USA children's hospital's parent mentor program participated in focus groups. Participants were asked open-ended questions related to the patient/family's experience at end of life, including legacy intervention provisions. Focus groups were video recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Similar ideas and categories were grouped to generate preliminary categories for coding. Codes were analyzed to identify central themes. Data analysis yielded three themes: 1) Types and Functions of Legacy Items/Activities, 2) Meaningfulness of Legacy Items/Activities, and 3) Process of Providing Legacy Items/Activities. Legacy interventions were reported as meaningful to participants because they connect them to their child, the treating hospital, and other bereaved families. To improve care for families whose child has a serious/terminal illness, professionals should be cognizant of the family's perception of legacy interventions and collaborate with the family's most trusted staff to help discuss and provide legacy interventions.https://pxjournal.org/journal/vol11/iss3/9legacypediatricsbereavementpatient- and family-centered carepatient experience
spellingShingle Stephanie Barta
Cassandra Matz
Stephany Griswold
Foster Rosemund
Caroline Boyd
Sarah Scott
Eileen Auer Bennett
Jennifer Staab
“You May Not Appreciate This Now, But You May Later”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact and Meaning of Legacy Interventions as Defined by Bereaved Parents
Patient Experience Journal
legacy
pediatrics
bereavement
patient- and family-centered care
patient experience
title “You May Not Appreciate This Now, But You May Later”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact and Meaning of Legacy Interventions as Defined by Bereaved Parents
title_full “You May Not Appreciate This Now, But You May Later”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact and Meaning of Legacy Interventions as Defined by Bereaved Parents
title_fullStr “You May Not Appreciate This Now, But You May Later”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact and Meaning of Legacy Interventions as Defined by Bereaved Parents
title_full_unstemmed “You May Not Appreciate This Now, But You May Later”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact and Meaning of Legacy Interventions as Defined by Bereaved Parents
title_short “You May Not Appreciate This Now, But You May Later”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact and Meaning of Legacy Interventions as Defined by Bereaved Parents
title_sort you may not appreciate this now but you may later a qualitative analysis of the impact and meaning of legacy interventions as defined by bereaved parents
topic legacy
pediatrics
bereavement
patient- and family-centered care
patient experience
url https://pxjournal.org/journal/vol11/iss3/9
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