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Making sense of loss through spirituality: Perspectives of African American family members who have experienced the death of a close family member to cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2017

Jill B. Hamilton ,
Nakia C. Best ,
Jessica S. Wells  and
Valarie C. Worthy
Jill B. Hamilton*
Affiliation:
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Nakia C. Best
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Jessica S. Wells
Affiliation:
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Valarie C. Worthy
Affiliation:
Sisters Network, Inc., Triangle Chapter, Durham, North Carolina
*
Author for correspondence: Jill B. Hamilton, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322. E-mail jbhamil@emory.edu
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Abstract

Objective

Among African Americans, spirituality is meaning or purpose in life and a faith in God who is in control of health and there to provide support and guidance in illness situations. Using qualitative methods, we explored the use of spirituality to make sense of the end-of-life and bereavement experiences among family members of a deceased cancer patient.

Method

Data in this report come from 19 African Americans who experienced the loss of a family member to cancer. A qualitative descriptive design was used with criterion sampling, open-ended semistructured interviews, and qualitative content analysis.

Results

Participants made sense of the death of their loved one using the following five themes: Ready for life after death; I was there; I live to honor their memory; God's wisdom is infinite; and God prepares you and brings you through. These five themes are grounded in conceptualizations of spirituality as connectedness to God, self, and others.

Significance of results

Our findings support the results that even during bereavement, spirituality is important in the lives of African Americans. African American family members might struggle with issues related to life after death, their ability to be physically present during end-of-life care, and disentangling beliefs around God's control over the beginning and ending of life. The findings in this report can be used to inform healthcare providers to better support and address the needs for support of African American family members during end-of-life and bereavement experiences.

Keywords

Palliative careEnd of life careBereavementSpiritualityCancerAfrican American family members
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 16 , Issue 6 , December 2018 , pp. 662 - 668
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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