Effects of Death Preparation Education on Awareness of Hospice Palliative Care and Withdrawing Life Sustaining Treatment in City Dwellers

Tsung, Pei Ling; Lee, Yoon Joo; Kim, Su Yeon; Kim, Seul Ki; Kim, Si Ae; Kim, Hyeon Ji; Nam, Yi; Ham, Suk Young; Kang, Kyung Ah

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to analyze how a death preparation education program have the effects on awareness of hospice palliative care and withdrawing life sustaining treatment in older adults.
METHODS
This study employed a non-equivalent control group design among quasi-experimental designs. The experimental group was comprised with 35 adults and the control group with 40 adults. The death preparation program consisted of five two-hour sessions and was administered once a week for five straight weeks. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, chi2 test, Fisher's exact test, and ANCOVA using SPSS version 18.0.
RESULTS
The mean age of the participants was 66.2 years. A significant difference between the experimental and control groups was observed in withdrawing life sustaining treatment (F=3.380, P=0.040). However, no significant difference was found in awareness of hospice palliative care (F=0.163, P=0.850).
CONCLUSION
The study results indicate that death preparation training could positively affect people's awareness of withdrawing life sustaining treatment. More studies should be conducted to explore effects of death preparation education for all ages and help people better understand hospice palliative care.