Supportive Intervention for Relatives of Patients Dying in the Emergency Department A Cluster Randomized Study to Reduce Grief and Stress

What this Trial Is About

This research investigates whether a multifaceted intervention can reduce prolonged grief disorder PGD in relatives of patients dying in the emergency department ED. PGD involves intense and lasting grief symptoms that affect about 10% of bereaved people. The study addresses the psychological impact on relatives following the death of a loved one in the ED, where death often occurs quickly and care staff may be less experienced with end-of-life support compared to intensive care units. The intervention being studied includes several components an initial meeting with the healthcare team providing written information about palliative care and the possibility for relatives to participate in care, proactive communication strategies, a dedicated interview, and a brochure after the patients death. Psychological follow-up support may also be offered. Participants are relatives of patients expected to die within 72 hours in the ED with prior do-not-resuscitate orders or treatment withholding. The study compares this intervention against usual care in a randomized design. Participants will be followed up with phone interviews at 3 and 6 months after inclusion to assess grief using the Prolonged Grief 13-item revised scale. Secondary outcomes include symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder assessed by the PCL-5 scale and anxiety and depression measured by the HADS scale at 3 months. The study monitors the psychological wellbeing of relatives over time to evaluate if the intervention reduces grief and stress related to the patients death in the ED.

A Multifaceted Intervention Strategy for Relatives of End-of-life Patients in the Emergency Department