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Preparing Family Members for the Death of Their Loved One With Cancer: A Review of Literature and Direction for Future Research

This review of literature describes recently published research on preparing family members for the death of their loved one with advanced cancer and discusses directions for further research. A search was conducted among 5 electronic databases. A total of 18 articles published between January 2000 and September 2011 were identified and included in this review. The literature revealed that the current trends of research are to study (1) the awareness of family members of the impending death of their loved one and (2) the 4 dimensions of preparedness. Comprehensive studies needed are to explore family members’ preparation for the death of their loved one with advanced cancer, including the awareness and time frame of family members for the death of a loved one; their preparedness including medical, psychosocial, spiritual, and practical dimensions; and communication and support received from healthcare professionals. Expanding understanding of preparing family members for the death will enable healthcare professionals to develop innovative interventions to improve family members’ preparation for the death of their loved one and to ease their bereavement.