Peer-reviewed article
Long-term grief experiences of parents who lost a child to cancer - Results from a multicenter cross-sectional study.
Raguindin PF, Pedraza EC, Vokinger AK, De Clercq E, von Bueren AO et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined long-term grief experiences in parents who lost a child to cancer in Switzerland. Researchers surveyed 103 parents of 81 deceased children using a grief assessment tool and identified three grief profiles ranging from low to high intensity. Factors associated with more intense grief included poverty risk and death occurring in a healthcare facility, while longer time since death was associated with lower grief intensity.
Key points
- Mean grief intensity was 23.3 on a scale of 11-55, with yearning the most prominent symptom
- Three grief profiles identified: low (56%), moderate (32%), and high grief (12%)
- High poverty risk and death in healthcare facility associated with higher grief intensity
- Longer time since death was associated with lower grief intensity
- Study included 103 parents of 81 children who died from cancer at Swiss pediatric oncology centers
Limitations
This study focuses on parental grief outcomes rather than child well-being. It measures bereavement experiences in parents retrospectively and does not evaluate interventions or outcomes for children.
Abstract
Background Childhood cancer deaths may be associated with persistent parental grief. Evidence on grief symptoms beyond ten years post-loss remains limited. Aims We described grief symptoms, identified grief profiles, and examined associations between grief intensity and sociodemographic, cancer-related characteristics, and time since death. Design This multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted in Switzerland (July 2022-July 2023). We used PG-13. Items were rated on a 5-point scale (1-5). We calculated the sum score to assess grief intensity (range 11-55). We employed descriptive statistics, latent profile analysis, and linear regression analyses. Setting/participants Eligible parents had a child diagnosed with cancer (⩽18 years), who had received treatment at one of three participating Swiss pediatric oncology centers and had died ⩾1 year prior to study participation. Participants were identified via the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry and invited by the child's former treatment facility. Results Of 388 identified cases, 103 parents of 81 deceased children participated. Mean grief intensity was 23.3 (SD = 9.0); yearning represented the most prominent symptom (mean = 3.2), while reminder avoidance was least prominent (mean = 1.3). Latent profile analysis revealed three grief profiles: low (56%), moderate (32%), and high grief (12%). High poverty risk (β = 11.04, p<0.001) and death in healthcare facility (β = 3.82, p = 0.024) were associated with higher grief intensity, while longer time since death was associated with lower grief intensity (β = -5.46, p = 0.041). Conclusions Parental grief symptoms can persist long after the death of a child to cancer. Integrated palliative care, anticipatory guidance, and multidisciplinary collaboration may identify at-risk parents early, and ensure sustained support within the community.