Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39881274›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2025

Work-related grief and bereavement experiences of social and community service workers working with people experiencing social disadvantage: a rapid scoping review.

Kara Whitlock, Zahra Premji, Ashley Mollison, Carolina Posada, Mauricio Arias-Rojas, Charlotte Futcher, Kelli I Stajduhar

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kara WhitlockInstitute on Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada.
Zahra PremjiLibraries University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada.
Ashley MollisonInstitute on Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada.
Carolina PosadaFacultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 67 No. 51-08, Medellín Antioquia Colombia, Colombia.
Mauricio Arias-RojasFacultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 67 No. 51-08, Medellín Antioquia Colombia, Colombia.
Charlotte FutcherPalliative and End of Life Care Program, Vancouver Island Health Authority, 1952 Bay Street, Victoria, BC, V8R 1J8, Canada.
Kelli I StajduharInstitute on Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada. kis@uvic.ca.

Funding

Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of Canada 1390839Michael Smith Health Research BC RA-2021-2383Vancouver Foundation FOI18-0169
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhile an extensive body of research in palliative care exists on the experiences of grief and bereavement among family caregivers, much of this research is based on normative assumptions of who family caregivers are - housed, financially stable, and with extended family and/or friends to draw on for support. Research shows that in contexts of social disadvantage(e.g., homelessness and poverty, mental health and substance use concerns, racism and discrimination), social and community workers can become 'defacto' family and provide caregiving support at the end of life. Yet, there is little known about the grief and bereavement experiences of this worker group.

methodsThis study aimed to review the available literature on the experiences of grief and bereavement among workers working with people experiencing social disadvantage. A rapid scoping review was conducted following the JBI scoping review methodology. Six sources (Medline, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Web of Science Core Collection, Sociological Abstracts, and Social Work Abstracts) were searched to identify relevant articles published until June 30th, 2023. From the systematic search and screening process, 9 studies met the eligibility criteria and were selected for the analysis.

resultsNine studies were included in this review that employed various qualitative approaches. Three main themes emerged from the narrative synthesis and thematic analysis: (1) Working in contexts of inequities, (2) Distress and its attributing factors, (3) Support needs and strategies.

conclusionsCaring for socially disadvantaged individuals poses unique challenges, compounded by repeated loss, premature deaths, and societal stigma. Social and community service workers lack formal recognition for their pivotal palliative care role, necessitating organizational support, palliative education, and collective responses to address their unmet grief and bereavement needs. Further research is essential.

Indexed as

BereavementCommunity Health WorkersGriefSocial WorkersHumansQualitative ResearchBereavementGriefSocial and community service workersSocial disadvantage

Identifiers

PMID39881274
PMCPMC11776191

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.