1. This study aimed at analysing the grief and coping of mothers whose child had died under the age of 7 years. The paper describes the social support received as experienced by mothers. 2. Data were collected using a survey (n=91) and interviews (n=50) with mothers who had lost their child at least 1 year previously. The questionnaire contained questions concerning background characteristics, the Hogan Grief Reaction Checklist and open-ended questions. Survey data were analysed using a two-way analysis of variance, Wilcoxon test, cross-tabulation and content analysis. Interview data were analysed using inductive content analysis. 3. Findings showed that the spouse, children, grandparents, next of kin, friends and colleagues were the main sources of support. 4. Support consisted of emotional support, informational and instrumental support, and consolation and caring. Informational support consisted of advice and guidance from the mother's own mother or fellow sufferers. Instrumental support consisted of assistance with practical issues. Negative support manifested itself in unwarranted interference by relatives in the family's affairs or breaking up of friendships. 5. Mothers expected professional practitioners to provide honest information about the dying child's illness and practical arrangements after the child's death, and to keep up hope as long as the child was alive. 6. The care facility was also expected to maintain contact with the family after the child's death.

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The purpose of this study was to generate knowledge of the interaction between an adult patient's family members and nursing staff from the staff's perspective. Data were collected from nursing staff (n = 155) working on the wards and out-patient departments for pulmonary, rheumatic, neurological and gastroenterological diseases at a university hospital by using a new questionnaire based on earlier research and the literature. The questions explored the staff's views of interaction with the adult patient's family members. In this study, interaction is seen as an umbrella concept which encompasses giving information to relatives, discussion, contacts between staff and significant others and working together. The instrument included questions about personal and telephone discussions, the provision of written instructions and factors facilitating and complicating interaction. The response rate was 55%. The data were analysed using SPSS software and examined using frequency and percentage distributions and cross-tabulation. The open-ended questions were analysed using qualitative content analysis by reducing, grouping and abstracting the data inductively. Discussions with relatives while they visited the patient in hospital were the commonest form of interaction. The majority of respondents perceived the interaction with the patient and knowing his or her family members as important. Less than one-fourth of the respondents started discussion with family members, while the majority expected family members to initiate interaction. The majority of respondents perceived the patient's presence in discussion as important, but sometimes they thought it was necessary to discuss with family members without the patient. The staff discussed with family members mainly in the ward office or in patient rooms, which were, however, not perceived as peaceful. Discussions primarily pertained to the patient's condition, discharge from hospital and planning of continued treatment. The majority of respondents reported that the opportunity for discussion offered by staff, the patient's positive attitude towards discussion with the family and family members' own interest facilitated interaction. The staff's haste and shift-work, family members' shyness of approaching the staff and the absence of a peaceful place for discussion serve to complicate interaction. Family members are primarily seen as informants and recipients of information. The staff's ability to recognize the importance of family members to successful patient care is relatively adequate. However, insufficient attention is paid to family members and their need for support.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain social support resources available for patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the effect of social support on their fear and anxiety. A postal questionnaire was sent to 270 patients awaiting CABG in one hospital, 207 of whom responded. Norbeck's Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) was used. The quality of basic cardiac information (QBCI) and the social support wanted (WSS) by patients were measured with an instrument developed for this study. Fear was measured with the Bypass Grafting Fear Scale (BGFS) developed for this study. Anxiety was measured with Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The results were analysed using frequency and percentage distributions, cross-tabulation, non-parametric tests and logistic regression. Heart patients' spouses provided the most emotional and tangible aid. Low emotional support from the social network was associated with high anxiety. Half the patients rated the quality of basic information as good or excellent. Those who perceived the quality of information to be excellent experienced mild fear. Those who displayed high fear wanted informational support from nurses more often than patients with lower fear. We conclude that the fear and anxiety of patients awaiting CABG are connected with their social support resources.

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