{
  "abstract": "Objective\n\nThis study aimed to synthesize existing qualitative evidence on how parents experience and navigate death preparedness when facing the impending loss of a child, and to identify key challenges and support needs relevant to clinical practice.Methods\n\nA qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted using Thomas and Harden's thematic synthesis approach. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CNKI, and VIP were systematically searched from inception to May 28, 2026.Results\n\nSeventeen studies were included. Eleven descriptive subthemes were identified and further organized into five analytical themes. (1) Oscillation Between Awareness and Avoidance, (2) Forced Urgent Preparation Crises, (3) Needs for Prognostic Information on the Dying Trajectory, (4) Rejection of Preparation Alone, (5) Construction of Meaning in the Face of Inevitable Loss.Conclusion\n\nDeath preparedness among parents is a dynamic, nonlinear, and relational process. Clinical support should move beyond promoting acceptance alone and instead focus on reducing decisional burden, improving communication, providing practical guidance, and supporting relational and meaning-making processes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443000, China.",
    "College of Medicine and Health Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.",
    "Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443000, China. ylfhello@163.com."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Xinyi Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Liangfeng Yang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zuxi Feng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yuqin Ma"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fsf9zex7mqvy1.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s12904-026-02240-8",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13726311",
  "id": "fsf9zex7mqvy1",
  "issns": [
    "1472-684X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968137",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2739|Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7172502188",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13726311?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13726311",
  "pmid": "42968137",
  "published": "2026-08-05",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fsf9zex7mqvy1.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T15:20:54Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42968137",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968137"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T12:22:41Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13726311",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-026-02240-8"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2739|Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Parental experiences of death preparedness at the end of life of their children: a qualitative meta-synthesis.",
  "title_text": "Parental experiences of death preparedness at the end of life of their children: a qualitative meta-synthesis.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T12:22:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fsf9zex7mqvy1",
  "venue": "BMC palliative care",
  "versions": []
}