Abstract
Introduction:
Considering the vulnerability of the bereaved people, it is important to perceive aspects concerning qualitative studies conducted with this population.
Objective:
This article aimed to reflect on the implications of conducting individual interviews with widows in bereavement.
Method:
It is a qualitative exploratory and descriptive study. Its target population was women, whose spouses have died within the past 2-6 months due to cancer and were over the age of 60 and had been attended by the Palliative Care Service during the period May- October 2015. The widows that agree to participate in the study were invited to a private interview. For its conduction, a semi-structured guideline was used. The content of the interviews was recorded, transcribed and analyzed by the coding process, generating comprehensive themes.
Results:
The widows cited benefits for participating in the interviews: it was the first opportunity to talk about their loss; it allowed them to share her distress, favoring some relief; increased confidence in their abilities; contributed to their empowered by talking about his daily life; allowed reflection on the way of living their everyday life.
Conclusion:
Conducting interviews with bereaved encourages attentive and uninterrupted listening, allowing them to share their experience. Considering the benefits pointed out by the widows, as they shared their experiences in the context of a qualitative research with interviews, it is possible to infer the relevance of the provision of bereavement support services, favoring bereaved to have space for sharing, in accordance with their singular demands.
Keywords:
Qualitative Research; Interview; Grief; Widowhood