Flowering out of the stones: An interpretive phenomenology study of healthcare professionals’ grief experiences following patient death in China

While healthcare quality continues to improve in China, the ways in which healthcare professionals respond to grief over patient death remain under-recognized. This study used interpretive phenomenology to explore how 20 Chinese healthcare professionals navigate experiences of grief, particularly in relation to their agency. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to generate four themes: (1) the root of grief: healthcare professionals’ personal bonding with patients; (2) the exploratory transition: from a negative attitude to recognition; (3) interpersonal grief expression as shameful and burdensome; and (4) institutional barriers to acknowledging and supporting grief. The findings highlight a challenging yet agentic portrayal of healthcare professionals’ grief experiences within the Chinese sociocultural context. By fostering a grief-literate workplace culture, hospitals can empower staff to navigate the grieving process more effectively, ensuring both their well-being and the continuity of high-quality patient care.