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Death education in selected health professions.
G E Dickinson1, E D Sumner, L M Frederick
1College of Charleston, SC.
Death Studies
|April 8, 1992
Summary
Most US health profession schools offer limited thanatology education, with many students graduating with minimal formal exposure to death and dying topics. While education has improved since the 1970s, significant gaps remain in comprehensive training for future health professionals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Thanatology
- Health Professions Training
Background:
- Health professionals frequently encounter death and loss.
- Thanatology education is crucial for compassionate patient care.
- Existing curricula may not adequately prepare students for end-of-life issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the extent of thanatology education in US health profession schools.
- To identify trends in death and dying education over time.
- To highlight areas for curriculum improvement in health professions.
Main Methods:
- Surveys were distributed to medical, nursing, pharmacy, dental, and social work schools in the United States.
- The surveys collected data on the availability and scope of thanatology-related coursework.
- Data analysis focused on identifying the prevalence and depth of death and dying education.
Main Results:
- Most surveyed schools (excluding dentistry) offer some thanatology education.
- The majority of these offerings consist of only one or two lectures.
- A significant percentage of students graduate with limited formal education in death and dying.
Conclusions:
- Thanatology education in health professions schools has increased since the 1970s.
- Current educational offerings are often insufficient to provide comprehensive training.
- Curriculum enhancement is needed to better prepare health professionals for end-of-life care and loss.