Loading...
The role and experiences of responders attending the sudden or unexpected death of a child: a systematic review and meta-synthesis
Tatterton, Michael J. Scholes, Sarah L. Henderson, S. Croucher, Fiona
Tatterton, Michael J.
Scholes, Sarah L.
Henderson, S.
Croucher, Fiona
Publication Date
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Rights
© 2022 The Authors. This is an Open Access article distributed under the Creative Commons CC-BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
openAccess
Accepted for publication
Institution
Department
Awarded
Embargo end date
Collections
Additional title
Abstract
The infrequency of sudden deaths means that professionals have limited exposure, making it difficult to gain experience and feel confident in their role. This meta-synthesis aims to synthesise qualitative research on the experience of professionals responding to cases of sudden or unexpected death. A systematic literature search was conducted using Academic Search Complete, CINHAL, Embase, psycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science, identifying ten papers for inclusion. Studies were appraised and synthesized using the principles of meta‐synthesis. Four
superordinate themes were identified: perceptions of role, experience on scene, approaches to coping, and barriers to support. Findings suggest the way responders perceive their role and their experience on scene affect the approach taken to tasks and coping strategies used. The complexity of experience is often not acknowledged by responders or their colleagues.
Experiences are compounded by cumulative factors which were expressed by different professional groups and across settings. Several barriers relating to workforce culture within organisations were identified, alongside the implications these have on staff wellbeing and the impact on bereaved families.
Version
Published version
Citation
Tatterton MJ, Scholes SL, Henderson S, Croucher F and Gibson C (2022) The role and experiences of responders attending the sudden or unexpected death of a child: a systematic review and meta-synthesis. Illness Crisis and Loss. 31(3): 426–444
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Article