Death education interventions for people with advanced diseases and/or their family caregivers: A scoping review

Abstract

Background:

People with life-threatening diseases and their family caregivers confront psychosocial and spiritual issues caused by the persons’ impending death. Reviews of death education interventions in the context of life-threatening diseases are scarce and limited to certain intervention types.

Aims:

This study aims to ascertain existing evidence on death education interventions for the population of adults with advanced diseases and/or their family caregivers and identify gaps for future research.

Design:

A scoping review guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework.

Data sources:

Thirteen electronic databases were searched for experimental and qualitative studies on death education interventions for the advanced disease population and/or their family caregivers between 1 January 1960 and 25 October 2023.

Results:

Nine types of interventions were identified in 47 studies, which included 5 qualitative and 42 experimental designs, half of which were pilot and feasibility trials. Most of the studies focused on people with advanced cancer, and only seven investigated caregivers or families/couples. Death-related outcomes were less likely to be assessed relative to psychological outcomes, spiritual well-being, and quality of life. Life review interventions, cognitive-behavior therapy, narrative therapy, and general psychosocial interventions decreased depression and anxiety, but evidence was limited. Factors contributing to the interventions’ success included intervention content, which enabled the disclosure of personal experience and death concerns comfortably, trained professionals, and connection to family caregivers.

Conclusions:

This work identified a few potentially effective death education interventions for psychological outcomes for people with advanced cancer or their caregivers. Additional trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of these interventions.