Understanding siblings' grief: a scoping review focused on death by cancer.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the existing literature on the grief experienced by siblings of cancer patients who have died, focusing on adaptation processes, emotional impact, and support needs of this population during and after the illness.

Methods: The current scoping review follows the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Peer-reviewed articles that explored the experiences of sibling grief due to oncological death were included. The search was conducted on twelve databases in July 2023. Thirty-four studies were included.

Results: Findings evidenced a lack of sample representativity. Moreover, coping with grief depends on several facilitating and hindering factors. Quality of the sibling bond, passage of time, recreational activities, social support, healthcare professionals' communication during illness and after death, and cultural practices are among the most common facilitating factors. Conversely, isolation, inadequate social support, and a lack of information about illness and death may hinder grief coping. Intervention studies play a key role in assessing social support and helping individuals construct meaning around death and loss. Recommendations for a better approach to managing grief in siblings are reported.

Conclusion: The topic studied could benefit from further research as no study includes samples from low- and middle-income countries. A better understanding of how the sibling bond affects grief and coping is needed to tailor interventions for these populations. A cohesive response from healthcare professionals, community-based support, and school-based support is needed to accompany the family and the bereaved sibling during illness and after the patient's death.