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An exploration of the lived experience of professional grief among occupational therapists working in palliative care settings
Author(s) -
Treggalles Kelly,
Lowrie Daniel
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1111/1440-1630.12477
Subject(s) - grief , feeling , palliative care , occupational therapy , lived experience , psychology , psychotherapist , nursing , coping (psychology) , medicine , psychiatry , social psychology
Background/aim Occupational therapists who work in palliative care are frequently exposed to the experience of death and dying. Previous occupational therapy research has offered insight into factors that influence feelings relating to death and dying and associated coping strategies. However, existing literature is dated and has not specifically examined the concept of grief. This study addresses this gap in knowledge by exploring the lived experience of professional grief among occupational therapists working in palliative care settings. Methods Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with six Australian palliative care occupational therapists. The data were collected and analysed using an interpretive phenomenological approach. Results Four interrelated themes were identified as core to the lived experience of professional grief among participants. These included; ‘knowledge of self’, ‘giving permission for connections and feelings’, ‘filtering experience’ and ‘being present at work and at home’. Conclusion Considered in combination, these themes offer a guide for therapists to explore their own experience of and responses to professional grief and, in doing so, foster the development of personalised management strategies.