Bereavement outcomes of carers of patients with high grade glioma: Experiences of support before and after the death

Abstract

Carers of people with High Grade Glioma (HGG) completed a survey assessing their anxiety, depression, and grief in addition to open-ended questions exploring their experiences of support pre- and post-death (N = 25). One-third reported borderline or clinical levels of anxiety, depression, and grief related distress. Given the poor prognosis and rapid deterioration of patients with HGG, the findings highlight the importance of sensitive communication about prognosis early in the disease trajectory, information tailored to disease stage, the initiation of a referral to psychological support services, and timely discussions about the preferred place of care and death.

Acknowledgments

We thank the bereaved carers who participated in this study. This manuscript was written on behalf of the Care-IS Project Team.

Author contributions

GKBH, EAL, AKN, and JLP: conception and design of the study. EM: acquisition of data. EAL, EM, RC, and GKBH: analysis and reporting of data. EAL, GKBH, AKN, EM, JLP, AN, HD, and RC: drafting the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by a Cancer Australia Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme project grant (APP1105307). Final data analysis was supported by funding from the Medical Research Future Fund for the Brain cancer Rehabilitation, Assessment, Intervention of survivor NeedS (BRAINS) project. Georgia Halkett is currently supported by a Cancer Council of WA Research Fellowship.