Table 3.
Themes, sub-themes, codes and frequencies observed in the sample.
| Sub-Themes | Codes | Frequencies | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme 1. How the communication took place | Verbal aspects of communication | Clarity of presentation | 26 |
| Generic information | 21 | ||
| Non verbal aspects of communication | News intuition | 8 | |
| Notifier empathy | 5 | ||
| Notifier vicinity | 13 | ||
| Attentive and sensitive notifier | 11 | ||
| Coldness of notifier | 14 | ||
| Embarrassed notifier | 8 | ||
| Unattentive and unpleasant notifier | 4 | ||
| Theme 2. Reactions | Reactions to the news | Shock | 16 |
| Sense of emptiness | 10 | ||
| Disbelief | 16 | ||
| Estrangement | 10 | ||
| Emotional Trauma | 5 | ||
| Pain | 35 | ||
| Despear | 15 | ||
| Feeling of dying | 2 | ||
| Death wishes | 4 | ||
| Giving up | 4 | ||
| Lack of the person | 5 | ||
| Body reactions | 6 | ||
| Guilt feelings | 1 | ||
| Stiffening | 5 | ||
| Indescribable emotions | 8 | ||
| Reactions towards the notifier | Anger | 10 | |
| Attempts to deny | 6 | ||
| Identification with the notifier | 2 | ||
| Peacefulness | 4 | ||
| Gratitude | 8 | ||
| Detachment | 7 | ||
| Silence | 4 | ||
| Post-communication actions | Collaboration with notifier | 10 | |
| Body recognition | 14 | ||
| Organ donation | 8 | ||
| Farewell | 12 | ||
| Return to the scene of the accident | 3 | ||
| Return home | 4 | ||
| Funeral organization | 2 | ||
| Communication to friends and relatives | 10 | ||
| Theme 3. Support | Seeking support | Formal support | 13 |
| Informal support | 10 | ||
| Received support | Concret help | 5 | |
| Moral comfort | 18 | ||
| Lack support | Practical | 3 | |
| Emotional | 4 | ||
| Institutional | 2 | ||
| Theme 4. Coping strategies | Relying on yourself | Inner strength | 2 |
| Family responsibility | 4 | ||
| Retelling | Writing | 5 | |
| Partecipation to research on the topic | 3 | ||
| Resignification | Reorganization of everyday life | 5 | |
| Search for explanations | 3 | ||
| Loss as a learning | 8 |