Moving and handling children after death: an inductive thematic analysis of the factors that influence decision-making by children's hospice staff

Hospices for children and adolescents in the United Kingdom provide care to the bodies of deceased children, in specially-designed chilled bedrooms called ‘cool rooms’. In an effort to develop resources to support hospice practitioners to provide this specialist area of care, the study aimed to identify the factors that influence decision-making when moving and handling children’s bodies after death in a hospice cool bedroom. An internet-based survey was sent to all practitioners employed by one children’s hospice. A total of 94.9% of eligible staff responded (n=56). An inductive approach to thematic analysis was undertaken, using a six-phase methodological framework. Three core themes were identified that inform practitioners’ perception of appropriateness of moving and handling decisions: care of the body, stages of care, and method of handling. The complexity of decision-making and variation in practice was identified. Practitioners relied on both analytical and initiative decision-making, with more experienced practitioners using an intuitive approach. Evidence-based policy and training influence the perception of appropriateness, and the decisions and behaviour of practitioners. The development of a policy and education framework would support practitioners in caring for children’s bodies after death, standardising expectations and measures of competence in relation to moving and handling tasks.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10454/18612

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No full-text in the repository

Citation

Tatteron MJ, Honour A, Kirby L et al (2022) Moving and handling children after death: an inductive thematic analysis of the factors that influence decision-making by children’s hospice staff. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. 24(1): 95-103.

Link to Version of Record

https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000000823

Type

Article