Work

Flowering out of the stones: An interpretive phenomenology study of healthcare professionals’ grief experiences following patient death in China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: While healthcare quality continues to improve in China, the ways in which healthcare professionals respond to grief over patient death remain under-recognized. This study used interpretive phenomenology to explore how 20 Chinese healthcare professionals navigate experiences of grief, particularly in relation to their agency. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to generate four themes: (1) the root of grief: healthcare professionals' personal bonding with patients; (2) the exploratory transition: from a negative attitude to recognition; (3) interpersonal grief expression as shameful and burdensome; and (4) institutional barriers to acknowledging and supporting grief. The findings highlight a challenging yet agentic portrayal of healthcare professionals' grief experiences within the Chinese sociocultural context. By fostering a grief-literate workplace culture, hospitals can empower staff to navigate the grieving process more effectively, ensuring both their well-being and the continuity of high-quality patient care.

Source: Death Studies

DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2025.2569611