Death, Dying, and End-of-Life Experiences Among Refugees: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: The objective of this scoping review is to identify and map the published evidence on death, dying and end of life experiences among refugees worldwide. This scoping review will also inform areas for potential future research in the field. Methods: We included papers that satisfied the following inclusion criteria: 1) Population of interest: Refugees worldwide and populations/individuals who were internally or externally displaced due to wars, conflicts, non-natural disasters, or emergencies 2) Setting of interest: The phase of end of life, dying and death that takes place following the refuge or displacement reported after the year 1980 3) Study design: Any study design, including but not limited to: news, editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, technical reports, primary studies, narrative reviews, systematic reviews, and policy briefs. We excluded papers that were not published in the English language; papers representing statistics of mortalities and papers focusing on the causes of death among refugees. We also excluded books and book reviews. We searched the following electronic databases:

Citizens appreciate talking about death and learning end-of-life care – a mixed-methods study on views and experiences of 5469 Last Aid Course participants

“…Refugees palliative care needs should also be addressed. 35,36 Last Aid Courses may contribute to create a more expansive and inclusive 'compassionate communites' by addressing their needs and cultural perspectives and to raise public awareness about the topic.…”

Palliative care needs of people and/or their families with serious and/or chronic health conditions in low- or middle-income country (LMIC) humanitarian settings—a systematic scoping review protocol

“…The growing momentum in this area includes an ever-expanding body of literature, ranging across the spectrum from primary research studies to reports and anecdotal reflections. Since 2017, a small number of systematic or scoping reviews have been undertaken — these have included studies focusing on palliative care in LMIC humanitarian emergency/crisis settings [ 3 , 7 ]; death, dying, and end-of-life care for refugees, now residing in both high-income countries (HIC) and LMIC settings [ 8 ]; end-of-life care in natural disasters, including pandemics in both LMIC and HIC settings [ 9 ]; culturally sensitive palliative care in humanitarian contexts, in both HIC and LMIC settings [ 10 ]; exploring palliative care for forced migrant families and children now in HIC and LMIC settings [ 11 ]; and underrepresentation of palliative care guidelines in infectious disease outbreaks in both HIC and LMIC contexts [ 12 ]. None of the systematic or scoping reviews located has specifically explored the palliative care needs of the patient and/or their family in multiple LMIC humanitarian settings as the sole topic, thereby highlighting an apparent gap.…”

Social Networks and Support to Older People in Refugee Situation in Western Countries

“…For instance, in the area of children and youth, Abojedi et al (2020) conducted a scoping review on the impact of family loss and separation on refugee youth, Salami et al (2021) explored the health of African refugee children, while Khan et al (2018) reviewed refugee youth mental health in Canada. Scoping reviews have also been carried out on the general health of refugees across the life span, for example: Filler et al (2021), Madi et al (2019), Riza et al (2020) Keboa et al (2016), and Forss and Magrio (2018) all reviewed literature on the healthcare of refugees. Also, Cipriani et al (2020) and Wachter et al (2021) reviewed the occupational and resettlement needs of refugees.…”