VARIABLES CONTRIBUTING TO EXPERIENCES OF GRIEF IN HIV AIDS HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS

High patient death rates and frequent patient re-admissions are among the factors that contribute to experiences of grief in health care pro fessionals working in the area of HIV/AIDS. This study of 134 Australi an health care professionals examines why grief about patient loss is more likely to affect some people than others, the effect of high leve ls of grief on staff, and the effectiveness of methods of coping with the loss of patients. The variables examined included identification w ith patients, anxiety, social recognition and reward, gay affiliation, stigma, social support (belonging and tangible) stress, relationship stability, and burnout (depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and l ack of personal accomplishment). A regression analysis found that a gr oup of predictors accounted for 61% of the variance in grief scores. T he results indicated that grief was associated with higher levels of i dentification with patients and anxiety. Higher levels of grief were a ssociated with burnout due to lack of personal accomplishment. Lower l evels of grief were associated with burnout related to depersonalizati on. Reliance on internal coping strategies and social support-belongin g were associated with lower levels of grief. Results suggest that sta ff should be taught ways of separating their work and private lives to reduce the risks of overidentification with patients. Teaching techni ques for reducing anxiety, providing support groups for staff, and enc ouraging the use of coping strategies that emphasize personal agency c ould reduce the intense feelings of grief