Bereaved family experiences of a supported viewing service: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Viewing the deceased person is a custom in many cultures, and an integral part of hospital-based bereavement care. To date, research to support and guide the practice of viewing is scarce. This paper reports a qualitative study, designed to describe and interpret the bereaved family lived experience of an in-hospital supported viewing service and their reflections on the choices and care provided. Ten family members, bereaved of an adult relative following a sudden or unexpected death from natural causes participated in a semi-structured, audio-recorded telephone interview. Data were subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis, from which four group experiential themes were developed, each comprising 2-3 subthemes. Overall, participants’ emotional reactions to the viewing experience and their perceptions of the service were positive. The study findings suggested viewing is an important part of care after death that is meaningful to people experiencing loss and grief