Social Work Commons^™

Experiences Of Canadian Oncologists With Difficult Patient Deaths And Coping Strategies Used, Leeat Granek, L. Barbera, O. Nakash, M. Cohen, M. K. Krzyzanowska

School for Social Work: Faculty Publications

Objectives We aimed to explore and identify what makes patient death more emotionally difficult for oncologists and how oncologists cope with patient death. Methods A convenience sample of 98 Canadian oncologists (50 men, 48 women) completed an online survey that included a demographics section and a section about patient death. Results More than 80% of oncologists reported that patient age, long-term management of a patient, and unexpected disease outcomes contributed to difficult patient loss. Other factors included the doctor–patient relationship, identification with the patient, caregiver-related factors, oncologist-related factors, and “bad deaths.” Oncologists reported varying strategies to cope with patient death. …