TY - JOUR
T1 - Attitudes of nurses toward perinatal bereavement
T2 - Findings from a study in Hong Kong
AU - Chan, Moon Fai
AU - Wu, Lai Har
AU - Day, Mary Christine
AU - Chan, Suk Hing
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Aim: Nurses' attitudes toward perinatal bereavement care are explored by identifying profiles of nurses working in 2 obstetrics and gynecology units in Hong Kong. Relationships between nurses' attitudes toward bereavement supports, need for bereavement education, and hospital policy are explored. Research method: A descriptive, correlational survey design was used, and 169 nurses recruited from an obstetric and gynecology (ob-gyn) unit at 2 local public hospitals in Hong Kong completed a structured questionnaire. Outcome measures: Attitudes toward perinatal bereavement support; required support and education needs for nurses on bereavement care. Findings: Two-step cluster analysis yielded 2 clusters. Cluster 1 consisted of 55.6% (n = 94) and cluster 2 consisted of 44.3% (n = 75) of nurses. Cluster 2 nurses were younger and had less ob-gyn experience, more junior ranking, and less education than cluster 1 nurses. Cluster 1 nurses had additional midwifery and bereavement care education, personal grieving experiences, and experience handling grieving clients. The majority held positive bereavement care attitudes, but only 29.6% (n = 50) had bereavement-related education. Attitudes toward bereavement care were positively correlated with educational needs (rs = 0.52) and hospital policy support (rs = 0.56). Conclusions: Hong Kong nurses emphasized the need for increased bereavement care knowledge and experience, improved communication skills, and greater hospital and team members' support. Findings may be used to improve support of nurses, to ensure sensitive bereavement care in perinatal settings, and to enhance nursing curricula. The desire of Hong Kong nurses for bereavement education highlights the universality of grief for a lost infant, regardless of cultural differences in approaching emotional topics. This study may help nurses in the United States and elsewhere gain a broader perspective in this area.
AB - Aim: Nurses' attitudes toward perinatal bereavement care are explored by identifying profiles of nurses working in 2 obstetrics and gynecology units in Hong Kong. Relationships between nurses' attitudes toward bereavement supports, need for bereavement education, and hospital policy are explored. Research method: A descriptive, correlational survey design was used, and 169 nurses recruited from an obstetric and gynecology (ob-gyn) unit at 2 local public hospitals in Hong Kong completed a structured questionnaire. Outcome measures: Attitudes toward perinatal bereavement support; required support and education needs for nurses on bereavement care. Findings: Two-step cluster analysis yielded 2 clusters. Cluster 1 consisted of 55.6% (n = 94) and cluster 2 consisted of 44.3% (n = 75) of nurses. Cluster 2 nurses were younger and had less ob-gyn experience, more junior ranking, and less education than cluster 1 nurses. Cluster 1 nurses had additional midwifery and bereavement care education, personal grieving experiences, and experience handling grieving clients. The majority held positive bereavement care attitudes, but only 29.6% (n = 50) had bereavement-related education. Attitudes toward bereavement care were positively correlated with educational needs (rs = 0.52) and hospital policy support (rs = 0.56). Conclusions: Hong Kong nurses emphasized the need for increased bereavement care knowledge and experience, improved communication skills, and greater hospital and team members' support. Findings may be used to improve support of nurses, to ensure sensitive bereavement care in perinatal settings, and to enhance nursing curricula. The desire of Hong Kong nurses for bereavement education highlights the universality of grief for a lost infant, regardless of cultural differences in approaching emotional topics. This study may help nurses in the United States and elsewhere gain a broader perspective in this area.
KW - Cluster analysis
KW - Hong Kong
KW - Nursing care
KW - Perinatal bereavement care
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U2 - 10.1097/00005237-200507000-00010
DO - 10.1097/00005237-200507000-00010
M3 - Article
C2 - 16106232
AN - SCOPUS:24644486102
SN - 0893-2190
VL - 19
SP - 240
EP - 252
JO - Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing
JF - Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing
IS - 3
ER -