The role and experiences of responders attending the sudden or unexpected death of a child: a systematic review and meta-synthesis
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Keyword
BereavementEmergency responders
Family care
Interprofessional working
Occupational stress
Policing
Experiences
Emergency responders
Professionals
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© 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
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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
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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): 426–444Link to Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1177/10541373221075300Type
Articleae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
https://doi.org/10.1177/10541373221075300