‘I’m very interested in learning more’: What health care professionals in the Dying2Learn Massive Open Online Course think of the death doula role

Abstract

The role of the death doula became apparent during the first Dying2Learn Massive Open Online Course in 2016. A death doula is a non-medical guide and advocate, who provides information and support for the dying and their family. The aim of this study was to understand Dying2Learn health care professionals’ perceptions of the death doula role. In week one of Dying2Learn, we asked whether the participants had an experience with a death doula and to share that experience. Of the n = 671 participants who responded to this activity, n = 317 identified as having a health care professional background, with these data extracted, analysed, and reported on. Nine themes were derived from the qualitative analysis: (1) not heard of the death doula role; (2) no experience with a death doula; (3) the role is beneficial; (4) has practiced as a death doula or has an interest in pursuing the role; (5) has heard of a death doula; (6) has had personal or professional experience with a death doula; (7) interested to learn more about the role; (8) the role overlaps with/is similar to those of other health/community roles and their own role incorporates death doula practices; (9) unsure about the role. Almost half of the respondents had not heard of the death doula role. Of those who had, those who work in hospice or specialist palliative care are more likely to have heard of the role and to want the role to be more well-known and to grow, acknowledging the potential in extra support for families when someone is dying. Some respondents had concerns, including the potential costs to the family of engaging a death doula and the fact that there was potential role overlap between death doulas and some health care professions.