CReD 

College of Paramedics Research Studies (CReD) database

Research Detail


Title of Research Study
Ambulance Clinician Bereavement Care Study (ACBC)
Overview Summary of Project
Ambulance clinicians often encounter challenging situations involving patient deaths and serious accidents, requiring them to provide bereavement care to affected families. However, research indicates that many ambulance clinicians feel unprepared for this role, citing a lack of formal training in breaking bad news (BBN) and managing bereavement. This can lead to significant emotional strain, impacting their mental health, professional performance, and personal lives. Existing coping strategies and training protocols, such as SPIKES and GRIE_VING, have shown some promise but are not widely known or implemented in pre-hospital care. This study aims to address these challenges by exploring the perspectives and practices of ambulance clinicians in the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) regarding bereavement care. The research seeks to understand how clinicians perceive their role in supporting families and to identify potential improvements in bereavement care delivery, both for the families and for the clinicians themselves. The study employs a mixed-methods approach. It will begin with a quantitative survey of NEAS clinicians to gather insights into their current bereavement care practices. This will be followed by focus group discussions to explore their experiences in greater depth. Participants will include frontline NEAS ambulance clinicians who have encountered bereavement care situations in the past five years. Findings from this research will provide valuable insights into the realities of bereavement care in pre-hospital settings and help to inform evidence-based strategies for training and support. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance bereavement care for families and better equip ambulance clinicians for this critical aspect of their role.
Questions
How do ambulance clinicians perceive and provide bereavement care to family members of patients who have died in their care?
Type of Research
Mixed methods

Proposed Start
2025-04-01
Proposed End
2024-11-29
Actual Start
Actual End

Link
Funding Body
Country where research is taking place
United Kingdom

Principal Researcher's Contact Email
owen.finney@neas.nhs.uk
Name of Principal Researcher
Owen Finney; Michelle Jackson; Graham McClelland;