Experience Of Death Research Articles

Letter to the Editor: Near-Death Experiences and Healing

Letter V. Krishnan to the editor of the Journal of Near-Death Studies on the topic "Near Death Experiences and Healing."

Book Review: Beyond Goodbye: An Extraordinary True Story of a Shared Death Experience

Review of a book titled "Beyond Goodbye: An Extraordinary True Story of a Shared Death Experience" written by Annie Cap.

A Latina Luthercostal Invitation Into an Ecclesial Estuary

AbstractDrawing from ethnographic and meta‐ethnographic research, this article analyzes the hermeneutic, and resulting ecclesiology, of Latina Luthercostal women in Latino/a Lutheran congregations in New York and Philadelphia. Preliminary findings suggest that Latina Luthercostal hermeneutics mirror Martin Luther's own hermeneutical approach. This particular hermeneutical lens invites the church into an ecclesial estuary where seemingly opposed traditions meet and are drawn by the Holy Spirit into a messy, meaningful, and necessary experience of death and resurrection for the purposes of transformation and renewal.

Journeys and Their Afterlives

SUMMARYThis piece is about the disjointed experiences of death, grief, and gendered Hindu religiosity in contemporary India. The religious rituals surrounding death animate journeys of all kinds—between the spaces of these rituals; between religious belief and skepticism; between the sentimentality of the past and the present realities of loss; between home, kinship obligations, and a transnational world; and between changing norms of the family. [death, gender, grief, Hindu ritual, India]

Challenges to implementation of advance directives of will in hospital practice.

to understand the difficulties and limitations in the implementation of advance directives of will in the hospital context. qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study conducted by means of semi-structured interviews with nurses, resident physicians and family caregivers. The data were analyzed by using discursive textual analysis based on the framework of bioethics principles. the following categories emerged: Terminality as an expression of loss and cure as an option for care; concerns about legal implications; advance directives of will demand patient autonomy and proper communication. limitations and difficulties in practice of advance directives of will from the perspective of the participants show, apart from countless conflicts and dilemmas regarding end-of life matters, that impending death experiences obstruct patients' wishes.

Child death and maternal psychosis-like experiences in 44 low- and middle-income countries: The role of depression

BackgroundStudies on the effect of child death on the mental wellbeing of women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are scarce despite the high child mortality rates. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess the association between child death and psychosis-like experiences (PLEs), as well as the role of depression in this association. MethodsData from 44 LMICs which participated in the World Health Survey (WHS) were analyzed. A total of 59,444 women who ever gave birth, aged 18–49years, without a self-reported lifetime psychosis diagnosis, were included in the analysis. The World Mental Health Survey version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to establish the diagnosis of past 12-month DSM-IV depression, and assess four positive psychotic symptoms. Depression was defined as self-reported lifetime depression diagnosis and/or past 12-month depression. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. ResultsAfter adjustment for potential confounders, women who experienced child death had higher odds for all types of PLEs (when unadjusted for depression) (OR 1.20–1.71; p<0.05) and depression (OR=1.64; 95%CI=1.39–1.93). When adjusted for depression, only delusion of control was strongly associated with child death (OR=1.54; 95%CI=1.20–1.97). ConclusionsChild death may be an important determinant of mental wellbeing among women in LMICs. Given the known adverse health outcomes associated with PLEs and depression, as well as the co-occurrence of these symptoms, mental health care may be particularly important for mothers who have experienced child loss in LMICs.

A good death from the perspective of palliative cancer patients.

Although previous research has indicated some recurrent themes and similarities between what patients from different cultures regard as a good death, the concept is complex and there is lack of studies from the Nordic countries. The aim of this study was to explore the perception of a good death in dying cancer patients in Sweden. Interviews were conducted with 66 adult patients with cancer in the palliative phase who were recruited from home care and hospital care. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Participants viewed death as a process. A good death was associated with living with the prospect of imminent death, preparing for death and dying comfortably, e.g., dying quickly, with independence, with minimised suffering and with social relations intact. Some were comforted by their belief that death is predetermined. Others felt uneasy as they considered death an end to existence. Past experiences of the death of others influenced participants' views of a good death. Healthcare staff caring for palliative patients should consider asking them to describe what they consider a good death in order to identify goals for care. Exploring patients' personal experience of death and dying can help address their fears as death approaches.

"It still haunts me whether we did the right thing": a qualitative analysis of free text survey data on the bereavement experiences and support needs of family caregivers.

BackgroundResearch suggests that there may be bereavement experiences and support needs which are specific to family caregivers providing end of life care (EoLC), although this remains an under-researched area. This paper focuses on themes relating to bereavement which were derived from an analysis of free text survey responses collected in a research priority setting exercise for palliative and EoLC.MethodsThe priority setting exercise involved a public survey, designed to generate research priorities. Rather than identify research topics, many people instead described their experiences and raised more general questions relating to palliative and end of life care. To explore these experiences and perspectives a supplementary thematic analysis was conducted on the survey responses. 1403 respondents took part, including patients, current and bereaved carers, health and social care professionals, volunteers and members of the public.ResultsSeveral grief issues were identified, which seem specific to the experiences of family caregivers. Responses demonstrated a relationship between death experiences, feelings of guilt and bereavement outcomes for some family caregivers, as well as caregiver experiences of a “void” created by the withdrawal of professional support after death. Communication and support needs were also identified by participants.ConclusionThis analysis provides further evidence of some of the specific effects that caring for a loved one at the end of life can have on bereavement experiences. Finding ways of improving communication around the time of death and effective follow up approaches post death could help to address some of these issues.

Understanding the cognitive experience of death and the near-death experience.

Understanding the cognitive experience of death and the near-death experience.

Confronting the dark: using practice-led research to write about death

In this article, I describe how my personal experience of death prompted the writing of a novel and how the practice of writing about death led me to develop a critical inquiry into Continental philosophy and other theories of death. I discuss philosophical approaches to living authentically in the face of death and the human tendency to search for meaning. I undertake a close reading of Helen Garner’s The Spare Room (2008) in light of these issues and the changing attitudes to death since modernism, particularly the need for open communication about death and the importance for the dying in feeling that their life has significance for other people.

Mortality by skin color/race and urbanity of Brazilian cities

ABSTRACTObjective: The skin color/race and urbanity are structural determinants of health. The relationship between these variables produces structure of social stratification that defines inequalities in the experiences of life and death. Thus, this study describes the characteristics of the mortality indicators by skin color/race according level of urbanity and aggregation to the metropolitan region (MR) of 5565 cities in Brazil, controlling for gender and age.Design: Descriptive study which included the calculation of measures relating to 1,050,546 deaths in the year survey of 2010 by skin color/race White, Black, and Brown according to both sexes, for five age groups and three levels of urbanity of cities in Brazil that were aggregated or not to the MR in the year of study. The risk of death was estimated by calculating premature mortality rate (PMR) at 65 years of age, per 100,000 and age adjusted.Results: The structure of mortality by skin color/race Black and Brown reflects worse levels of health and excessive premature deaths, with worse situation for men. The Whites, especially women, tend to live longer and in better health than other racial groups. The age-adjusted PMR indicates distinct risk of death by skin color/race, this risk was higher in men than in women and in Blacks than in other racial groups of both sexes. There have been precarious levels of health in the urban space and the MR has intensified these inequalities.Conclusions: The research pointed out that the racial inequality in the mortality was characterized by interaction of race with other individual and contextual determinants of health. Those Blacks and Browns are the groups most vulnerable to the iniquities associated with occurrence of death, but these differences in the profile and the risk of death depend on the level of urbanity and aggregation MR of Brazilian cities in 2010.

Characteristics of Violent Deaths Among Homeless People in Maryland, 2003-2011.

People experiencing homelessness are susceptible to many adverse health events, including violence. The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive analysis of homeless individuals who suffered a violent death in Maryland. Characterizing these deaths will provide a basis for additional analyses that can inform violence prevention activities. This study used data from the Maryland Violent Death Reporting System to examine violent deaths of homeless people occurring from 2003 through 2011. This surveillance system collects information on all violent deaths occurring in Maryland. Victim demographics, injury and death information, precipitating circumstances contributing to deaths, and toxicology information were examined. All analyses were conducted in 2014 and 2015. Among all violent death victims from 2003 through 2011 (N=14,327), a total of 279 (2.0%) were identified as homeless victims. More than half (65.2%) of deaths were of undetermined intent, 21.2% were homicides, and 13.6% were suicides. The most common method of injury was poisoning (59.0%). Substance abuse and having a current mental health problem were among the most commonly reported circumstances relating to death. This study found substance abuse and mental health problems to be major circumstances precipitating violent death among people experiencing homelessness. This study will serve as a starting point for more in-depth analyses on experiences of violent death among homeless people that can inform violence prevention policy and programming.

Experience of patient death and subsequent bereavement by members of the oncology team in the outpatient setting.

244 Background: Working with cancer patients is considered inherently stressful with high levels of burnout reported. There is limited research that focuses on the multidisciplinary team as a whole; research to date tends to focus on patient death from the perspective of the bedside oncology nurse, the physician or social worker. With the focus on those disciplines individually, thereby ignoring the centrality of the multidisciplinary nature of oncology care and excluding fundamental team members who provide care and are potentially impacted by the death of the patient. What is evident in current research is that long term meaningful relationships are developed between members of the multidisciplinary team and patients, with the consequences and implications of unresolved or unacknowledged grief being well documented as burnout and compassion fatigue. It is suggested that better support, acknowledgement of patient death and grief has implications for individual staff wellbeing, for staff training, support and the healthcare system, all of which have impact on the quality of patient care, improve retention, decrease burnout and compassion fatigue. The aim of this research is to explore the experience of death and subsequent bereavement from the perspective of those healthcare professionals who provide direct patient care at an outpatient oncology clinic. Methods: A qualitative study using a phenomenological approach was conducted to explore multidisciplinary team members experiencing regarding patient death and subsequent bereavement in the outpatient oncology setting. Individual interviews were conducted with 11 members of staff from 5 oncology teams based in the outpatient clinic of a magnet designated hospital. Results: Qualitative analysis yielded the following themes: insight, mortality, relationships, communication, grieving and bereavement, training and education, support and coping. Conclusions: To understand how patient death affects team members who provide patient care and support mechanisms used. Participants identified a need for acknowledging patient death in the work environment and had multiple suggestions for creating a supportive environment.

The experiences of parents in supporting their son or daughter with intellectual disability to learn about dying and death

ABSTRACTBackground People with intellectual disability have a limited understanding of dying and death. The role of parents in developing the understanding of their son or daughter with intellectual disability about these concepts is unclear. This study aimed to explore parental experiences when talking with their son or daughter with intellectual disability about dying and death.Method Four participants were interviewed about how they discussed dying and death with their son or daughter with intellectual disability. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the findings.Results Parents did more than talk to their son or daughter about death; they involved them in dying and death experiences. Parents’ motivations influenced the way they included their son or daughter in these experiences.Conclusions The parents played an important role in providing learning experiences for their son or daughter with intellectual disability about dying and death.

What Does the Staff Think?: Factors Associated With Clinical Staff Perceptions of What Constitutes High-Quality Dying and Death at a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital.

In an effort to improve the care of a dying child in the hospital, research was conducted to identify factors associated with the staff's perception of high-quality dying and death. The research used a unique electronic survey that was administered to clinical staff caring for children within the final 3 days of their life in the hospital. Positive death experiences were associated with absence of patient pain, dyspnea, anxiety, or agitation and the presence of spiritual, psychological, and culturally appropriate care for the patient and family. A positive correlation with quality was noted if there was clarity about goals of care and appropriate directives were in place to alleviate suffering. When clinicians felt their needs were met and they had more end-of-life education, they also perceived the quality of the experience as higher and had less distress from the event. Variability in perceived quality of the death experience was noted between different units of the hospital. Providing a supportive environment for pediatric deaths is enhanced by ensuring certain processes are in place and clinicians have the education and support to deliver high-quality care at the end of life.

Brucellosis in pregnant women from Pakistan: an observational study.

BackgroundBrucella species occasionally cause spontaneous human abortion. Brucella can be transmitted commonly through the ingestion of raw milk or milk products. The objective of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of and to identify potential risk factors for brucellosis in pregnant women from Rawalpindi, Pakistan.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study at the Gynecology Outdoor Patient department of the Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from March to June 2013. Data related to potential risk factors and clinical history was collected by individual interviews on the blood sampling day. The 429 serum samples collected were initially screened by Rose Bengal Plate Agglutination test for the detection of Brucella antibodies. We applied standard descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses.ResultsTwenty five (5.8 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 3.8 % -8.5 %) serum samples were found to be seropositive. Brucellosis-related clinical symptoms were recorded in various seropositive cases. Animal contact, raw milk consumption, having an abortion history and the experience of an intrauterine fetal death were associated with seropositivity for brucellosis in univariate analyses (all p <0.05). In multiple logistic regression models only the contact with animals remained as independent and robust risk factor (odds ratio 5.21; 95 % CI: 1.88-13.75; p = 0.001) for seropositivity.ConclusionBrucellosis is a serious threat for pregnant women and their unborn children in Pakistan. Pregnant women having brucellosis-related symptoms or previous history of abortions, miscarriages, intrauterine fetal death and other brucellosis-related manifestations should be screened for brucellosis – especially those exposed to animals given the increased risk – and medication should be administered according to state of the art.

Suffering Peacefully: Experiences of Infancy Death in Contemporary Zambia

AbstractIn Ng'ombe Township in Lusaka, the death of a baby is often met with silence. Based on long‐term ethnographic fieldwork, this article explores how the bereaved mother's silence is guided by wider cultural norms and values associated with death, by complex notions of what it means to be a person, and by local perceptions of mental health and well‐being. To enhance the complexity of the mother's silences, it also explores how structures of poverty manifest in mothers’ experiences of loss and how silence may hold feelings of inadequacy but also of care and compassion. Finally, the article aims to provide a counterweight to the predominant assumption that mothers in poor communities, who experience high levels of infant mortality, fail to mourn the death of their babies, as well as to psychological theories that assumes verbal expressions as vital for the mourner's mental recovery after loss.

Blind Seeing: Deathwriting from Dickinson to the contemporary

The essay traces a tradition of what is here called ‘deathwriting’ as it stretches from Emily Dickinson, to Franz Kafka, to Samuel Beckett, to Cormac McCarthy. The work of all these writers, the essay argues, is driven by the urge to give a poetic form to the experience of death, to make death thinkable and narratable. Alongside this tradition of deathwriting, and interwoven with it, one can discern too, a fascination with ‘blind seeing’, an attempt to make darkness visible, or to overcome the distinction between the light and the dark, the visible and the invisible. In reading the connection between deathwriting and blind seeing as it runs from Dickinson to the contemporary, the essay argues that these writers allow us to glimpse a differently constituted relationship between the living and the dead, and between the perceptible and the imperceptible. At a contemporary moment when it has become urgent to rethink our apparatuses for world picturing, with the emergence of the Anthropocene as a critical context for all of our imaginings, the essay offers this history of deathwriting as a radically different way of seeing, without the aid of human light.

Recruiting bereaved parents for research after infant death in the neonatal intensive care unit

Understanding parental experiences following infant death in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a high research priority and a necessary first step to improving health services. However, recruiting bereaved parents to discuss their experiences on such an extremely sensitive topic can be challenging and research procedures must be planned carefully in order to get an adequate sample. There is little published in the literature detailing specific strategies for recruiting bereaved parents for grief research, especially strategies for contacting parents and identifying factors that might affect participation. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of recruiting bereaved parents into a qualitative research study exploring parental NICU experiences and grief responses following infant death. We describe a successful recruitment plan that led to the enrollment of difficult to recruit participants such as fathers, and individuals representing minorities and those from lower socioeconomic (SES) groups. Bereaved parents of infants after an NICU hospitalization should continue to be recruited for research studies for their unique perspectives and valuable insights about the devastating experience of infant death. Participants in this study reported more benefits than harm and the results addressed a critical gap in the literature.

간호대학생의 임종간호 태도에 영향을 미치는 융합적인 요인분석

본 연구는 임종간호 태도에 영향을 미치는 요인들을 파악하기 위하여 시도하였다. 연구 대상은 간호대학에 다니고 있는 학생 147명이였으며 측정 도구는 죽음불안, 죽음에 대한 태도, 자아존중감, 삶의 만족도, 임종간호 태도에 관한 문항으로 구성되었다. 죽음불안, 죽음에 대한 태도, 자아존중감, 생활만족도, 임종간호 태도 정도는 기술통계로 분석하였고 제 변수들 간의 상관관계는 Pearson correlation coefficients, 임종간호 태도에 영향을 미치는 요인은 다중 선형 회귀분석(Multiple linear regression)을 적용하였다. 임종간호 태도는 죽음 불안, 죽음에 대한 태도와 유의한 부적 상관성이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 죽음 불안(<TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>=-.392), 자아존중감(<TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>=.179), 죽음 학습경험(<TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>=-.227) 등이 유의미한 영향을 주는 것으로 나타나 임종간호 태도의 18.7%를 설명하였다. 본 연구 결과를 토대로 실제적인 임종간호 교육프로그램 개발에 활용할 수 있을 것이다. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to identify factors influencing on nursing students' end-of-life care attitude. Methods: A sample of convenience of 147 nursing students, Instrument included death anxiety, death attitude, Self-esteem, Life satisfaction, end-of-life care attitude. Results: A significant negative correlation was found among end-of-life care attitude, death anxiety, death attitude. Death anxiety(<TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>=-.392), self-esteem(<TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>=.179) & experience of learning(<TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>=-.227) about death were significant predictive variables. This variables accounted for 18.7% of the variance in end-of-life care attitude. Conclusions: Based on the Findings of this study, it can be used to develop educational programs for end-of-life care.