Issues in the Use of an Anticipatory Grief Scale to Be Used by Home-Visiting Nurses to Support Family’s Anticipatory Grief

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to clarify the issues in the use of the Anticipatory Grief Scale in the provision of anticipatory grief support to the family by home-visiting nurses.

Methods: Six home-visiting nurses with more than 3 years of experience in Prefecture A were interviewed. The data were analyzed using a qualitative synthesis method (the KJ method).

Results: The findings were as follows: Some home-visiting nurses reported “hurdles to the realization of dying at home: acceptance status for home death and status of family care,” and as a result, “relied on the unspoken atmosphere due to a nurse’s underlying fear of grief reactions”. On the other hand, some home-visiting nurses “deeply understood the emotions and relationships and engaged with the family members by consciously recognizing anticipatory grief”. The “tensions of both the active and cautious groups” became clear as “nurses’ awareness of scale use” was identified as a problem. This was influenced by “time spent together with families who are engaged in end-of-life care” and “exploring how to spend the final days”

Conclusion: In order for home-visiting nurses to effectively provide anticipatory grief support to the family, the team should share the fear of the family’s grief reaction and lifelong education for grief should be provided.