Long-term grief experiences of parents who lost a child to cancer- Results from a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Childhood cancer deaths may be associated with persistent parental grief. Evidence on grief symptoms beyond ten years post-loss remains limited. We described grief symptoms, identified grief profiles, and examined associations between grief intensity and sociodemographic, cancer-related characteristics, and time since death. This multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted in Switzerland (July 2022-July 2023). We used PG-13. Items were rated on a 5-point scale (1-5). We calculated the sum score to assess grief intensity (range 11-55). We employed descriptive statistics, latent profile analysis, and linear regression analyses. Eligible parents had a child diagnosed with cancer (⩽18 years), who had received treatment at one of three participating Swiss pediatric oncology centers and had died ⩾1 year prior to study participation. Participants were identified via the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry and invited by the child's former treatment facility. Of 388 identified cases, 103 parents of 81 deceased children participated. Mean grief intensity was 23.3 (SD = 9.0); <i>yearning</i> represented the most prominent symptom (mean = 3.2), while <i>reminder avoidance</i> was least prominent (mean = 1.3). Latent profile analysis revealed three grief profiles: low (56%), moderate (32%), and high grief (12%). High poverty risk (β = 11.04, p<0.001) and death in healthcare facility (β = 3.82, <i>p</i> = 0.024) were associated with higher grief intensity, while longer time since death was associated with lower grief intensity (β = -5.46, <i>p</i> = 0.041). Parental grief symptoms can persist long after the death of a child to cancer. Integrated palliative care, anticipatory guidance, and multidisciplinary collaboration may identify at-risk parents early, and ensure sustained support within the community.