Abstract
During the study period, researchers at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA contacted family members of trauma patients who had died either in the Emergency Department or the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. The researchers, using a graded survey by telephone or by mail, attempted to ascertain the importance of certain described elements to the family members as they were receiving the news of the traumatic demise. From this information, the components were ranked in terms of importance. The most significant features of delivering bad news were described as the attitude of the news-giver, clarity of the message, privacy and the knowledge and ability of the news-giver to answer questions. The elements of least importance to the family included attire of the news-giver, and their “rank” or seniority. The overall results of this survey determined that the manner in which families were told of the death of a loved one from a traumatic mechanism is extremely important and it may impact upon the survivors for the rest of their lives. Certain behaviors of the news-givers that were perceived by the families as most helpful included a caring attitude, being well-informed and providing clarity of communication. Providing privacy and time to the families so that they may absorb the information with dignity appears to be among the top-ranked elements. The authors recommend that an educational module be included in the medical schools’ curricula to address these issues with new physicians. Trauma is a disease of opportunity and the team member responsible to deliver the bad news may need to utilize the information gleaned from this study, and should have it available to them.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 69-70 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Journal of Trauma Nursing |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Emergency
- Critical Care
- Advanced and Specialized Nursing
Cite this
Giving bad news : The family perspective. / Jurkovich, Gregory; Pierce, B.; Pananen, L.; Rivara, F. P.
In: Journal of Trauma Nursing, Vol. 7, No. 3, 01.01.2000, p. 69-70.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Giving bad news
T2 - The family perspective
AU - Jurkovich, Gregory
AU - Pierce, B.
AU - Pananen, L.
AU - Rivara, F. P.
PY - 2000/1/1
Y1 - 2000/1/1
N2 - During the study period, researchers at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA contacted family members of trauma patients who had died either in the Emergency Department or the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. The researchers, using a graded survey by telephone or by mail, attempted to ascertain the importance of certain described elements to the family members as they were receiving the news of the traumatic demise. From this information, the components were ranked in terms of importance. The most significant features of delivering bad news were described as the attitude of the news-giver, clarity of the message, privacy and the knowledge and ability of the news-giver to answer questions. The elements of least importance to the family included attire of the news-giver, and their “rank” or seniority. The overall results of this survey determined that the manner in which families were told of the death of a loved one from a traumatic mechanism is extremely important and it may impact upon the survivors for the rest of their lives. Certain behaviors of the news-givers that were perceived by the families as most helpful included a caring attitude, being well-informed and providing clarity of communication. Providing privacy and time to the families so that they may absorb the information with dignity appears to be among the top-ranked elements. The authors recommend that an educational module be included in the medical schools’ curricula to address these issues with new physicians. Trauma is a disease of opportunity and the team member responsible to deliver the bad news may need to utilize the information gleaned from this study, and should have it available to them.
AB - During the study period, researchers at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA contacted family members of trauma patients who had died either in the Emergency Department or the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. The researchers, using a graded survey by telephone or by mail, attempted to ascertain the importance of certain described elements to the family members as they were receiving the news of the traumatic demise. From this information, the components were ranked in terms of importance. The most significant features of delivering bad news were described as the attitude of the news-giver, clarity of the message, privacy and the knowledge and ability of the news-giver to answer questions. The elements of least importance to the family included attire of the news-giver, and their “rank” or seniority. The overall results of this survey determined that the manner in which families were told of the death of a loved one from a traumatic mechanism is extremely important and it may impact upon the survivors for the rest of their lives. Certain behaviors of the news-givers that were perceived by the families as most helpful included a caring attitude, being well-informed and providing clarity of communication. Providing privacy and time to the families so that they may absorb the information with dignity appears to be among the top-ranked elements. The authors recommend that an educational module be included in the medical schools’ curricula to address these issues with new physicians. Trauma is a disease of opportunity and the team member responsible to deliver the bad news may need to utilize the information gleaned from this study, and should have it available to them.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85026143680&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85026143680&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00043860-200007000-00011
DO - 10.1097/00043860-200007000-00011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85026143680
VL - 7
SP - 69
EP - 70
JO - Journal of trauma nursing : the official journal of the Society of Trauma Nurses
JF - Journal of trauma nursing : the official journal of the Society of Trauma Nurses
SN - 1078-7496
IS - 3
ER -