[Before the diagnosis was established … A retrospective analysis of bereavement care in Germany]

Abstract

Introduction: In Germany, many health care providers work in bereavement care. An epidemiological study of this field of work has not yet been conducted.

Methods: In the initial survey of this three-phase trend study the situation of grief-specific health care in Germany in 2009/2010 is examined, i. e., at the time before the introduction of the new ICD-11 diagnosis of Prolonged Grief Disorder. For this purpose, bereavement care providers at different organizational levels participated in an online survey.

Results: 410 questionnaires were included in the study. Data analysis was descriptive. The most frequent reason for using grief-specific support services was the loss of a partner. In more than half of all cases of bereavement, people experienced a loss that was preceded by an illness and suffering. More than half of those providing bereavement care do not follow a concept of intervention.

Discussion: There is considerable need for further development in German bereavement care, in particular with regard to qualification and the degree of professionalization, designation of the respective interventions, diagnostics, and intervention.

Conclusion: This three-phase trend study enables health care providers to derive bereavement care service standards that aim to treat people according to their needs. Whether the diagnosis of Prolonged Grief Disorder has led to changes in bereavement care is currently analyzed in the second survey phase of the study.

Keywords: Bereavement; Bereavement care; Grief; Grief counselling; Trauer; Trauerbegleitung; Trauerberatung; Trauerversorgung; Trend study; Verlust.