Death Education and its Effect on the Death Anxiety Level of Nurses

Abstract

The purpose of the present srudy was to determine the effect of a death education program for registered nurses upon their level of death anxiety. Ss were 30 female nurses, ranging from 22 to 58 yr. of age with a mean of 32.80 yr. They were randomly selected from 330 registered nurses employed by a 500-bed general medical and surgical hospital in New York City. The program consisted of six 1%-hr. sessions spaced 1 wk. apart, with relevant readings distributed at the end of each session The methods used included lecture-discussion, audio-visual presentations, group dynamics, role playing, and sensitiviry exercises. It is acknowledged that it is not possible in this article to describe the program thoroughly enough for replication.' However, the primary intent of this study was to determine the effectiveness of such a program, with analysis of the therapeutic ingredients being left for fume research. Ss were administered Templer's (1969, 1970) Death Anxiery Scale at the beginning of Session 1, on the completion of the program, and 4 wk. later. The nurses obtained Death Anxiery Scale means of 6.70 on pretest, 6.36 on posttest