Strategies of professional assistance after traumatic deaths: Empowerment or disempowerment?

Dyregrov, K. (2004). Strategies of professional assistance after traumatic deaths: Empowerment or disempowerment? Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 45, 181–189. Referring to research and theory in the field, this discussion paper addresses the more overarching question of current strategies for professional assistance to populations bereaved by traumatic death. The issues and controversies that have long surrounded the “medicalization” of mental health arise anew with respect to the medicalization and professionalization of psychosocial help for people who have been traumatically bereaved. Who should provide what help and how? To what extent should the bereaved be expected to help themselves, receive help and support from friends and family, or even the wider community; and to what extent should the bereaved be able to access appropriate professional help when they are in crisis? Recent studies have indicated that bereaved parents want to receive help from mainstream crisis psychology, and this is not always available. Families experiencing traumatic bereavement are not able to access appropriate services along the same lines as those suffering similar levels of somatic complaints. It is argued that the main factors contributing to this situation are the lack of knowledge and inadequate organization of services; the fact that somatic issues take priority over psychosocial difficulties and dysfunction, and curative services over prophylactic intervention; and particularly the de‐medicalization ideology. By not listening to the needs of user groups, the de‐medicalization movement disempowers rather than empowers users – the very opposite of the desired effect.     

Burnout,compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among nurses in the context of maternal and perinatal deaths

This study investigated the prevalence and levels of burnout, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among nurses with exposure to maternal and perinatal deaths. A convenience sample of 83 nurses was selected for participation from six hospitals in Limpopo province, South Africa, comprising 98% females with an age range of 21 to 62 years, and 15 to 18 mean years of experience in maternal and perinatal care. The nurses completed the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL R-IV), which is a measure of burnout, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. The analysis examined the prevalence and level of burnout, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among the nurses. Most of the respondents (92%) reported with moderate burnout scores, and about 67% reported with moderate to high compassion fatigue scores, whilst 82% reported with compassion satisfaction scores. Moderate levels of high burnout and compassion fatigue can co-occur with relatively high compassion satisfaction among nurses in critical-care health services.     

Reflecting Absence: Representing the Extraordinary Deaths of Ordinary Sailors in the Media

This study undertakes a comparative analysis of the commemorative discourse used by the South Korean media, family members, and the general public in response to the deaths of 46 sailors on board a navy ship that was sunk by a North Korean torpedo in 2010. It identifies differences in the methods of remembrance among the different groups, with the media focusing on human values, professional ethics, and universal norms, while family members recalled everyday experiences with the deceased and stressed acceptance of death and the general public emphasized heroism, immortality, and national solidarity. This study discusses the differences in the understanding of death between South Koreans and Westerners.     

急诊死亡病例放弃治疗原因分析及临床实践

对本院急诊科2008年～2012年302例急诊死亡病例进行分析,通过比较分析放弃治疗死亡和非放弃治疗死亡2组患者的年龄、疾病分类、伴发病、费用类别等情况,探析放弃治疗原因及探讨在急诊临床工作中如何实施放弃治疗.本组放弃治疗的主要原因是患者为疾病无康复可能、终晚期的老人.在放弃治疗过程中医生要遵循一定的程序,反复评估病情,确定是否符合放弃治疗标准,并与家属充分沟通,尊重患者的各种权利,同时必须规范填写医疗文书.     

"Demographic Futures for Christianity and the World Religions"

Abstract :  Since before 1970 Christian researchers have been tracking the massive demographic shift of Christianity to the Southern Hemisphere and noting the increasingly religious nature of populations around the world. At the same time, writers on the future of religion have been drawn to extreme portrayals of decline or revival of religion. However, the world's religious situation is replete with detailed information, drawn from enormous data collections on religious affiliation and questions about religion in government censuses. Quantitative tools, utilizing this information in the context of demography provide a more nuanced view of humankind's religious future. Demographic trends coupled with conservative estimates of conversions and defections envision over 80% of the world's population will continue to be affiliated with religions 200 years into the future. This religious future will have a profound influence on Christian theology, relations between religions, and the interaction between religion and politics.