Clinical Research Directory

Families Left Behind

The United States is facing unprecedented rates of drug overdose deaths, profoundly impacting millions of families who are left to navigate their grief. Those bereaved by overdose experience a unique form of grief characterized by feelings of guilt, shame, and blame, which can worsen their suffering and deter them from seeking help. Individuals coping with overdose loss often endure more severe health consequences compared to those grieving non-drug related deaths, including prolonged grief disorder, substance use disorders, PTSD, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Moreover, bereaved individuals, particularly those with a history of substance use, may engage in risky behaviors as a means of coping, further exacerbating the risk of overdose and mortality within this vulnerable population. Peer grief support interventions have emerged as a promising approach to assist those experiencing such losses. To combat these outcomes, we are collaborating with Peer Community Support Partners (PSCP) in a novel practice-research partnership to implement the RIVER peer grief support model. Though RIVER has shown success in community settings, it has yet to be rigorously evaluated. In a three-aim approach, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of the RIVER model while also enhancing and engaging grievers with support resources via medical examiner offices (MEOs), which routinely contact families during death investigations. This research represents a pivotal advancement in addressing the needs of the overlooked bereaved community, aligning with the NIH's Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative to develop effective strategies against the opioid crisis. Together, community engagement and rigorous research efforts aim to enhance support for those affected by the tragedy of drug overdose.

A Multifaceted Intervention Strategy for Relatives of End-of-life Patients in the Emergency Department

In France, a study has reported that about 0.2% of patients visiting the ED died in the ED. A large survey of 145 EDs in 3 French speaking countries has reported that a median of 2 patients dies each week in each ED and its observation unit. After the death of a loved one, prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a bereavement-specific syndrome that is defined as intense, prolonged yearning and preoccupation with thoughts of the deceased. PGD prevalence after the loss of a relative was 10% (95%CI 7-14) in the general population.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by experiencing a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. The reported lifetime PTSD prevalence is 7% among adults in the general population. Admission and death in the hospital can be a traumatic and stressful experience for relatives, and is associated with an up to 50% risk of PGD and PTSD at 6 months. In the setting of ICU, several studies have reported that implementation of simple human interventions (information supports including written information on end-of-life care and pro-active communication strategy with systematic interviews with relatives), was associated with a lower risk of PTSD at 3 months (45% vs. 69%) and PGD at 6 months (21% vs 57%). Furthermore, it has been reported that offering the possibility of relatives to be present during nursing and medical care may be beneficial. In the out of hospital setting, offering the possibility for relative to be present during resuscitation was also associated with a reduction of PTSD at 3 months (15% vs 26%), which was confirmed at 1 year. The ED setting differs from the one of ICU mainly because exposition time to the dying process is shorter and healthcare workers are less used to manage end of life. Whether these strategies are beneficial for patients dying in the ED, where dying patients are older with more end- stage chronic diseases and shorter length of stay, remains unknown. The hypothesize of the study is that a multifaceted intervention, including pro-active communication strategy, visual supports, and offering the possibility to be present during nursing and medical care would decrease the risk of PGD in relatives of patients dying in the ED.