Cultivating Compassion in Students for End-Of-Life Processes: A Mixed-Methods Participatory Research Protocol

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Medical Education
• Psychology

Background:

• End-of-life care education is crucial for developing compassion in young adults.
• Existing educational models may not fully equip students with the necessary skills for compassionate end-of-life support.
• A participatory approach can foster deeper understanding and engagement with compassion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of a participatory awareness and reflection process on compassion in students aged 12-23 facing end-of-life issues.
• To understand how participatory action research transforms students' capacity for compassion.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of compassion programs in educational settings.

Main Methods:

• Mixed sequential transformative methodology combining quantitative and qualitative phases.
• Quasi-experimental pre-post design with 1390 students (12-23 years) across six Spanish regions.
• Participatory Action Research (PAR) intervention with concurrent evaluations, utilizing validated scales for compassion, empathy, and death anxiety.

Main Results:

• The study is ongoing, with data collection and analysis in progress.
• Preliminary findings suggest a positive impact of the participatory process on students' compassion and empathy.
• The qualitative phase aims to explore the transformative aspects of PAR on students' compassionate attitudes.

Conclusions:

• Implementing PAR in educational settings can empower students to establish compassion communities for individuals nearing end-of-life.
• This research contributes valuable insights for cultivating compassion in university and school environments.
• The findings support the integration of compassion programs and death education into curricula to foster empathetic communities.