Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39910529›Full record

ArticleBMC surgery2025

The impact of death and caring for the dying and their families on surgeons - an AI assisted systematic scoping review.

Jun Rong Tan, Yun Ting Ong, Victoria Jia En Fam, Annushkha Sinnathamby, Nila Ravindran, Yaoyi Ng, Lalit Kumar Radha Krishna

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMC surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Jun Rong TanYong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 11, Block 1E, Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore.
Yun Ting OngDivision of Cancer Education, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 30 Hospital Boulevard, Singapore, 168583, Singapore.
Victoria Jia En FamDivision of Cancer Education, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 30 Hospital Boulevard, Singapore, 168583, Singapore.
Annushkha SinnathambyKhoo Teck Puat National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore.
Nila RavindranYong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 11, Block 1E, Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore.
Yaoyi NgYong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 11, Block 1E, Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore.
Lalit Kumar Radha KrishnaYong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 11, Block 1E, Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore. lalit.radha-krishna@liverpool.ac.uk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

contextSurgeons are taking central roles in caring for patients leaving them prone to the emotional turmoil and grief of patients and families and the moral, psychological and existential distress of members of the interprofessional team and trainees. This has implications on patient safety and surgeon welfare.

objectivesA systematic scoping review was carried out to address the primary research question "what is known of the effects of caring for the dying and the impact of patient's death on surgeons?". It is hoped that the insights gained will better guide support and assessment of surgeons in their evolving roles.

methodsGuided by the Systematic Evidence-based Approach (SEBA), we conducted a systematic scoping review (SSR). This review included articles published between 1st January 2000 and 2nd September 2024 on Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, ERIC databases. To enhance trustworthiness and enhance the comprehensiveness of our review the articles identified were also evaluated using ChatGPT 4o and Notebook LM. The findings of these assistive processes were compared with the independent thematic and content analysis carried out by the two research teams.

resultsIn total, 4966 titles and abstracts were identified, 174 full-text articles were reviewed, and 26 full-text articles analysed. With the findings of the assistive analysis by the AI tools echoing the findings of the research teams- two key domains were identified: (1) the impact on personhood, (2) predisposing factors.

conclusionThis AI assisted SSR in SEBA confirms that surgeons do suffer from the cumulative effects of caring for dying patients and their families and from the death of the patient and supporting the family and members of the interprofessional team and trainees. Without timely and personalized support surgeons are prone to depression, burnout, and substance abuse, and compromises to patient and family experiences, outcomes, safety and satisfaction. The need for effective longitudinal and personalized assessment tools is clear.

Indexed as

Attitude to DeathFamilySurgeonsTerminal CareHumans

Identifiers

PMID39910529
PMCPMC11796083

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.