Table 3 Recommendations aligned to research design phases

Overall approach to study topic

The full bereavement continuum, including transition from anticipatory grief to bereavement and loss.

Potential for long-term effects of grief

The wider ecology of bereavement care

Potential issues of diversity and equality

Potential issues of equity and accessibility of care

Research design

Interdisciplinary and international collaboration

Mixed method, theory-based approach (such as realist review/evaluation embedded in an RCT) to evaluate if a complex intervention, such as music therapy for supporting informal carers of terminally ill patients pre- and post-death bereavement, is effective, for whom, and in what circumstances

Involvement of carers as research collaborators throughout the research project (not just as participants)

Theoretical perspective, bearing in mind wide possible range

Prioritise due care for participants and also researchers

Approach to intervention design

Potential for public health approaches

Relationship-oriented and person-centred practice

Methodology / Outcomes measures

Mixed methods design

Include physical outcomes

Use Core Outcome Set for evaluation of bereavement interventions

Consider burden on participants when selecting outcomes measures

Data collection

Consider arts-based approaches

Innovative approaches to data collection

Inclusion of health economics data

Timeframe for data collection – immediately post-intervention and 3-month follow-up