Do we need to change our understanding of anticipatory grief in caregivers? A systematic review of caregiver studies during end-of-life caregiving and bereavement

摘要

Objective: Caregivers of terminally ill patients may experience anticipatory grief or low levels of preparedness for the patient's impending death. Both concepts are related to a forewarning of the impending loss. Anticipatory grief has been suggested to be grief work before the loss, which would improve bereavement outcome, but recent studies indicate a negative impact. Hence, this review systematically investigates key issues relating to anticipatory grief and preparedness for the death; definitions, measurement tools, and potential effects on caregiver outcome.