Experiencing death cafés: A qualitative evidence synthesis

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Societal discomfort with mortality hinders end-of-life decision-making.
• Death literacy is underdeveloped globally, despite its importance.
• Death cafés offer informal settings for dialogue on mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize participant and organizer experiences in death cafés.
• To explore motivations, mechanisms, and impacts of death café participation.
• To understand how death cafés influence perspectives on death and dying.

Main Methods:

• A meta-ethnography approach was used.
• Qualitative studies on death cafés were systematically searched and analyzed.
• Included studies were appraised for quality and confidence in findings.

Main Results:

• 18 studies synthesized, identifying three themes: breaking silence, cultivating safety, and embracing death.
• Death cafés reframe mortality as a shared human experience, challenging death denial.
• Despite potential tensions, death cafés provide inclusive platforms for end-of-life discourse.

Conclusions:

• Death café models can enhance death literacy by encouraging open conversations.
• Tailored death conversational programs are needed for diverse individual needs.
• Promoting death literacy through such initiatives is crucial for end-of-life preparedness.