Strategies used to deliver bad news to the family of unexpected and sudden death victims: a scoping review protocol.

Abstract

Objective: This scoping review aims to map the strategies used during the communication of bad news to families of unexpected and sudden death victims from the perspective of those receiving the news.

Introduction: The strategies used in communicating a person's death to their family, especially in unexpected and sudden situations, can have a profound impact on the grief management process. This communication is often carried out by a health professional (doctor, nurse, or paramedic), but may also be carried out by a police officer, depending on the context in which the situation has occurred (in or out of hospital).

Inclusion criteria: This scoping review will include studies on families of victims of unexpected and sudden death. All studies focusing on the strategies used to communicate bad news of unexpected and sudden death face to face, implemented by any professional in an intra-hospital or extra-hospital context, from the perspective of those who received the news, will be considered.

Methods: This review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. An initial search will be conducted, followed by a second search for published and unpublished studies in major health-related electronic databases. Studies published in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese will be included, with no geographical, cultural, or time limits. Data selection, extraction, and synthesis will be performed independently by 2 reviewers and will include details of populations, study methods, and strategies used. A narrative synthesis will accompany the results and describe how they relate to the objectives of the review.

Review registration: Open Science Framework https://osf.io/4rhw3.