Omega
-
This study operationalizes and assesses the percentage of "good deaths" achieved among Chinese cancer patients in a palliative care program, the profile of these patients, the relationship between patients with a good death and psychosocial factors, and the differences in background factors, and physical and psychosocial conditions between patients who experienced a good death and those who did not. Clinical data mining was the research method used. Records of deceased cancer patients between 2003 and 2005 in a palliative care unit were the sole data source. ⋯ Good death was positively associated with recorded indicators of fullness in life, caregivers' acceptance and support, and negatively with reported feelings of upset about changes in the course of their illness. The results heighten awareness among social workers and other healthcare professionals about the value of good death in patients in palliative care. This empirically-based awareness can foster professionals' ability to set intervention objectives to help patients in palliative care achieve this universally accepted goal.
-
Thanatology is a recent field that contemplates death studies and employs an interdisciplinary approach to practice. This science emerged in a historical context marked by intense social, economic, and political changes that contributed to the concept of death being excluded from social life. ⋯ In our post-modern society, the call for studies in the field of thanatology appears to be increasing. However, although there have been significant contributions and promising research is underway, there are still many questions to be answered.
-
Close personal relationships are very important in our lives. Our closest relationships help us regulate our bodies and minds and contribute importantly to our sense of wellbeing (Hofer, 1984; Mikulincer, Orbach, & Iavnieli, 1998; Sbarra & Hazan, 2008). ⋯ Acute grief takes us out of our ongoing life and focuses our attention on our deceased loved one. Grief is finely tuned to each loss situation with a pattern and course that is unique to each person and each relationship.