The burden of grief

A scoping review of nurses’ and physicians’ experiences throughout the Covid-19 pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID14809240
AuthorsSarah Burm (0000-0002-0767-2278, Dalhousie University, corresponding author), Selena MacDonald (0009-0000-8135-852X, Dalhousie University), Carolyn M Melro (0000-0003-0412-5495, Dalhousie University), Carolyn Melro (Dalhousie University), Erin Kennedy (0000-0002-1981-0260, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, Canada), Erin D Kennedy (0000-0001-7383-0900, Western University), Pauline Tran-Roop (Dalhousie University), Frances Kilbertus (0000-0002-1467-4159, NOSM University), Alan Macleod (0000-0002-0939-7767, Dalhousie University), Susan Robinson (0000-0001-5279-5536, Canadore College), Jackie Phinney (0000-0002-2044-7358, Dalhousie Libraries c/o Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada)
Year2025
Volume49
Issue2
Pages101-110
Publication date2025-02-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDeath Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0748-1187 • E-ISSN: 1091-7683
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/07481187.2024.2306461
PMID38280182
OpenAlexW4391276162
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited60

Coping with loss is an unfortunate reality faced by healthcare professionals, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this challenge for those who worked on the frontlines. Our scoping review aimed to comprehensively map the existing literature pertaining to the experiences of grief among nurses and physicians in the context of the pandemic. Six bibliographic databases were searched in 2022, and a targeted search of gray literature and citation chasing was also performed. After screening a total of 2920 records, we included 173 evidence sources in this review. Data was both analyzed descriptively (e.g., frequency counts and percentages) and using a qualitative content analysis approach. Our findings illuminate the myriad losses experienced by nurses and physicians throughout the pandemic. While the literature portrays the coping mechanisms healthcare professionals have developed personally, there is a pronounced need for increased institutional support to alleviate the burdens they carry

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Citation · Disease · Grey literature · Grief · Health care · Health professionals · MEDLINE · Pandemic · Political science · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology

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