The Effects of a Positive Death Education Group on Psycho-Spiritual Outcomes for Chinese with Chronic Illness: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Traditionally, death is a taboo subject in Chinese culture. However, very few studies examine the effects of death education program on the psycho-spiritual outcomes among Chinese patients. This article reports on a quasi-experimental study on Chinese patients with chronic diseases who participated in a psycho-education group on positive death preparation. Findings revealed that participants in the intervention group (n = 81) reported significantly greater reduction in fear of death, death avoidance, greater increase in death acceptance, death preparation, tranquility and spiritual well-being at immediate post-intervention than the control group (n = 79). It is also found that levels of death-related fear and avoidance in the intervention group were significantly lower at 1–month follow-up when compared with baseline. This study challenges the assumption that Chinese people are not receptive to intervention that addresses issues of death and dying. Implications of conducting death education program among a culturally diverse population are discussed.