J Korean Oncol Nurs.  2010 Aug;10(2):156-162.

Comparison of Meaning in Life and Death Attitude between Participants and Non-participants in Well-dying Education

• Kang KA

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purposes of this study was to compare the meaning in life and death attitude between the participants and non-participants of the well-dying education program.
METHODS
This study adopted the descriptive comparative design. Data were collected by interviewing 85 participants and 94 non-participants of well-dying education. The instruments used for this study were a self-report questionnaire.
RESULTS
There were significant differences in age, gender, marital status, health status, and volunteer experience. The program participants showed higher scores in the death attitude than non-participants. There were significant correlations between meaning in life and death attitude in participant group. Death attitude was significantly associated with meaning in life in participant group with 6.0% variance
CONCLUSION
Based on the results, well-dying education program was effective to prepare good death with more comprehensive vision. Therefore, this program should be served for patient with life-threatening illness by nurse and this is the expended role of oncology and hospice palliative nurses.

Keyword

Death; Education; Life; Attitude

MeSH Terms

Hospices
Humans
Marital Status
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vision, Ocular

Reference

1. Park KS. Bioethical considerations and preventive devices on suicide [dissertation]. 2009. Seoul: Catholic Univ..

2. Korea National Statistical Office. Annual report on the cause of death statistics (Based on vital registration). 2006. Daejeon: Korea National Statistical Office.

3. Oh JT. The last present. 2007. Seoul: Sejongbooks.

4. Kim HM. A study on the recognition and attitudes for the death among the aged [dissertation]. 2001. Yongin: Kangnam Univ..

5. Frankl VE. The will to meaning: foundations and applications of logotherapy. 1988. 2nd ed. NewYork: Penguin.

6. Travelbee J. Interpersonal aspects of nursing. 1972. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: F.A.Davis.

7. Cho KH, Lee YJ, Lee HJ. Understanding than atology. 2006. . Seoul: Hakjisa.

8. Yoon MO. The effects of a death preparing education program on death anxiety, spiritual well-being, and meaning of life in adults. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2009. 20:513–521.

9. Georgemiller R, Maloney HN. Group life review and denial of death. Clin Gerontol. 1984. 2(4):37–49.

10. Frommelt KH. The effects of death education on nurses' attitudes toward caring for terminally ill persons and their families. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1991. 8(5):37–43.

11. Park JH. An analysis of the effects of the death preparation program [dissertation]. 2007. Daejeon: Mokwon Univ..

12. Oh JT, Kim CG. Effects of death education on attitude toward death and depression in older adults. J Korean Gerontol Soc. 2009. 29:51–69.

13. Cho KH, Lee YJ, Lee HJ. Life and Death. 2006. Paju: Yangseowon.

14. Choi BH. A study for the Elderly's Attitude toward Death and the Future Life Readiness Education [dissertation]. 2002. Cheonan: Hoseo Univ..

15. Kang YS. A study of pastoral care for the elderly anxiety and death education [dissertation]. 2008. Yangpyeong: Asian United Theological Univ..

16. Choi SO, Kim SN, Shin KI, Lee JJ. Development of Meaning in Life Scale II. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2005. 35:931–942.

17. Chang KS. Study on the recognition and attitudes for the death among the aged [dissertation]. 2007. Seoul: Seoul Christian Univ..

18. Yu HO. Death anxiety among the middle aged and the elderly focused on afterlife and the readiness to death [dissertation]. 2004. Seoul: Sungshin Women's Univ..

19. Lee YJ. A study on the relationship between elderly consciousness regarding preparation for death and anxiety of death-Focused on those using the welfare center for the elderly [dissertation]. 2005. Seoul: Catholic Univ..

20. Jeon YG. A study of factors influencing the death anxiety in the old age [dissertation]. 2000. Daejeon: Mokwon Univ..

21. Frankl VE. Man's search for meaning. 1963. New York: Washington Square Press.

22. Brallier LW. Starck PL, McGovern JP, editors. The suffering of terminal illness: cancer. The hidden dimension of illness human suffering. 1992. New York: NLN.