Nursing care and nurses’ understandings of grief and bereavement among patients and families during cancer illness and death – a scoping review

PurposeGrief and bereavement is often present among patients and families during courses of cancer. Offering support for both patients and families is essential in the context of cancer nursing. Present scoping review offers an overview of existing knowledge, which can be used for inspiration in cancer-nursing. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify understandings of grief and bereavement, which is present in a cancer-nursing context and to develop insight on existing knowledge about nursing interventions targeted patients and their families’ experiences of grief and bereavement due to cancer illness.MethodThe scoping review is conducted, inspired by the methodology of Joanna Briggs Institute. Sources of evidence are retrieved from a large number of databases and resources.ResultsTwenty-two studies are included in the scoping review. The studies are retrieved from eight different countries. Findings are mapped in nine categories. Eight categories related to nursing care targeted patients and/or families experiencing grief and/or bereavement; One category related to understandings of grief and/or bereavement targeted patients and families.ConclusionNursing interventions to support patients and their families during grief and bereavement covers a broad spectrum of interventions. E.g. communication; using artwork; cultural and spiritual care; bereavement care; supporting coping strategies. Different models and theoretical understandings were identified. E.g. The dual process model of coping with bereavement; A Divorced Family-focused Care Model; Family Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversation (Fam-SOTC); and understandings of children's grieving process.