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Cited by 16Palliative and Oncologic CareHealthcare professionals’ stress and burnoutGrief, Bereavement, and Mental Health

Worker experiences of the work health and safety impacts of exposure to dying and death in clinical settings: a qualitative scoping review

Roche, Natalie, Darzins, Susan, Oakman, Jodi, Stuckey, Rwth·2025·OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying
DOI 10.1177/00302228221117902
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Abstract

Workers employed in clinical healthcare settings often encounter dying and death of patients as a part of their role. This scoping review aimed to explore the physical and psychosocial OHS impacts on health workers exposed to death within their occupational role and their inherent coping strategies. Six electronic databases PsycINFO (Ovid), Medline (Ovid), AMED (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Proquest Social Sciences were searched for peer reviewed research articles published between March 1971 and April 2022. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed. Three authors independently assessed articles for inclusion. Fifty-three studies with focus settings in hospitals, hospice, general practice and residential care were identified. Five main themes were developed and organized using and ergonomic systems approach: Cultural Environment, Workplace, Job Demands, Impacts and Coping. The findings demonstrate that caring for dying patients, the dead and their families in clinical settings impacts workers emotionally, physically, behaviorally and spiritually.

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Crossref · 10.1177/00302228221117902

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92 of 92 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Nurses have been reported as experiencing poor psychological outcomes; grief and guilt from exposure to death may be detrimental to their mental health.

    “Nurses have been reported as experiencing poor psychological outcomes; facing death can be challenging, and the grief and guilt of exposure to death may be detrimental to their mental health (DesJardin, 2025; Roche et al., 2025).”

    From Nurses' and midwives' experiences of supporting parents following perinatal bereavement: A qualitative systematic review (2026) · cites this paper as Roche et al., 2025

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Authors
Roche, N., Darzins, S., Oakman, J., & Stuckey, R.
Affiliations
  • La Trobe University (AU)
  • Australian Catholic University (AU)
Corresponding author
Roche, Natalie
ORCID
Venue
OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2022-12-08
Volume
90
Issue
3
Pages
1193-1228
ISSN
  • 0030-2228 (ISSN-L)
  • 1541-3764
DOI
10.1177/00302228221117902
OpenAlex
W4310957130
Cited by
16
References
92
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4
FWCI
1.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Keywords
workplace health and safety, exposure to death, dying patients, healthcare workers, occupational stress, coping strategies, psychosocial impact, physical health impacts, spiritual impact, organizational culture, job demands, hospice care, hospital staff, residential care staff
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Attitude to Death, Death, Health Personnel, Humans, Occupational Health, Workplace, Qualitative Research

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