1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«La mort d’un enfant est considérée comme l’une des expériences les plus difficiles à laquelle une personne puisse faire face. Les cliniciens, les hôpitaux et plusieurs organismes ont pour objectif d’aider les parents endeuillés, mais leurs efforts sont compliqués par un manque de recherche dans le domaine du deuil parental. Cette thèse est composée de trois articles, soit deux revues de littérature et une étude empirique, qui tentent de combler cette lacune et d’informer les services en soins palliatifs pédiatriques et les services de soutien au deuil en particulier.» (p. i) Cette fiche synthèse porte uniquement sur le troisième article. «L’objectif du troisième article était d’informer les services de suivi et de soutien au deuil auprès des parents en se renseignant directement auprès de parents endeuillés.» (p. ii)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«Twenty-one bereaved parents were interviewed (10 of these as parental dyads), in addition to seven hospital staff involved in bereavement follow-up activities at two paediatric hospitals.» (p. 119)

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

According to the results of the third article, «[w]e found that in the first year after the death of their child, parents experienced waves in the emotional intensity of their grief. They regulated their grief through either loss-oriented or restoration-oriented strategies, including attempts to: make sense of the loss; find positive aspects related to their experiences; and reorganize their self-identity and connection to their deceased child. Parents’ relationships with friends, family and staff were integral in helping them cope with their losses. In addition, many of the bereavement follow-up and support services were considered helpful because they assisted parents with these various aspects of coping, such as by helping parents maintain a connection to their deceased child. Collectively, the results yield insights that can aid service providers in accompanying parents in a way that optimizes outcomes for these parents and the families, friends, and communities to which they belong.» (p. 119-120)