"The Lack of Preparation Compounds Provider Grief": Results From a Needs Assessment on Grief Training Delivered to Pediatric Residents

Abstract

Educational interventions to prepare pediatric residents to care for grieving people are rare. This study aimed to identify gaps in grief training and assess any changes in grief-related experience, attitudes, and skills during residency training. Pediatric residents completed a survey conducted from March to April 2022 that assessed their experience, attitudes, skills, and knowledge of organizational support related to caring for grieving patients and families. The survey achieved a 49% response rate. Residents reported increasing clinical experience with grief over time (r = 0.45, P = .001), yet formal training about grief was inadequate and did not improve with time (r = 0.14, P = .34). Despite improvements in competence with delivering difficult news with years in residency (r = 0.31, P = .03), only 35.7% felt competent by PGY3/4. Only 19.5% of residents overall believe adequate grief support exists within their training program. Pediatric residents care for grieving people throughout residency. Opportunities for residents to receive formal grief training are inadequate.

Keywords: communication skills; debriefing; grief; pediatric resident; well-being.