A Multimethod Examination of Medical Students’ Experiences With Bereavement and Complicated Grief

Bibliographic Data

ID13627615
AuthorsKortni A Ferguson (0000-0002-9441-4321, University of Pittsburgh, corresponding author), Eva Reitschuler‐Cross (University of Pittsburgh), Eva B Reitschuler-Cross (University of Pittsburgh), Sarah T Stahl (0000-0001-5712-1266, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States)
Year2021
Volume88
Issue2
Pages668-689
Publication date2021-09-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00302228211049678
PMID34590884
OpenAlexW3202624721
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited52

Few studies have examined grief in medical students. This study used a multimethod approach to describe how bereavement and CG may impact medical students' educational experience and their perspectives on grief support and training. One hundred three medical students completed an online survey with quantitative and qualitative methods. Seventy-three (71%) students reported experiencing bereavement, of which 12 (18%) screened positive for CG. Medical students who screened positive for CG reported significantly more emotional and behavioral challenges ( M = 3.58 [ SD = 2.64]) compared to medical students without CG ( M = 0.93 [ SD = 1.58], p < .001). Qualitative analyses revealed that bereaved and nonbereaved students wanted more grief education and bereavement support from medical institutions. Therefore, it is crucial for medical institutions, to acknowledge that grief and bereavement may impact students' performance due to multifactorial causes

Complicated grief · Grief · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Clinical Psychology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Migration, Health and Trauma · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology