Quality of death, rumination, and posttraumatic growth among bereaved family members of cancer patients in home palliative care.

OBJECTIVE: The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that quality of death (QOD) and intrusive and deliberate rumination are associated with posttraumatic growth (PTG) among bereaved family members of cancer patients in home palliative care.

METHODS: Data were collected from 805 bereaved family members of cancer patients who died at home in Japan. We used a cross-sectional design and participants completed Good Death Inventory, Event-Related Rumination Inventory, and PTG Inventory. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships.

RESULTS: A direct pathway from QOD to PTG was significant. We also found significant indirect pathways between QOD and PTG via deliberate rumination soon after the death and recent deliberate rumination.

CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should provide high-quality end-of-life care with the goals of achieving a good death for terminally ill cancer patients and supporting the experience of PTG in bereaved family members after their loss.