A Meta Analysis of Effectiveness of Death Education / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We comprehensively analyzed domestic studies on the effects of death preparation education in order to present objective data. METHODS: Meta-analysis was conducted with a total of 22 master's and doctoral theses published between 2004 and 2014. RESULTS: According to our analysis, the death preparation education had a mid-size effect. The effect size of a moderator variable was the greatest in infants and children, and the effect size was bigger in younger ages. The effect size was the greatest when education was given through a total of 10~15 sessions, twice a week, and less than 60 minutes per session. The effect variable and death-related variable showed a significant effect size, and sub-variables were equivalent to the death-related variable with a biggest effect size. Non-death related variables had a mid-level effect size and sub-variables were found to have the highest ego integrity. CONCLUSION: The significance of this study lies its systematic integration of advanced research on the effects of death preparation education through meta-analysis. By suggesting guidelines for the design of a death preparation education program, evidence-based basic data were proposed which will more likely strengthen intervention effects. Based on these results, more studies are needed to develop and extensively carry out a death preparation program which can meet needs of specific age groups from children to seniors.