Communication about Death and Confidence Levels concerning Death-Related Issues among Koreans
10.21215/kjfp.2019.9.3.303
- Author:
Jaewon LEE
1
;
Jiwon KIM
;
Tae Suk KIM
;
Chulmin KIM
Author Information
1. College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. musofm@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Legislation
- Keywords:
Death;
Attitude to Death;
Death with Dignity;
Communication;
Personal Autonomy;
Value System;
Terminal Care;
Advance Care Planning
- MeSH:
Adult;
Advance Care Planning;
Attitude to Death;
Humans;
Logistic Models;
Personal Autonomy;
Right to Die;
Taboo;
Terminal Care
- From:
Korean Journal of Family Practice
2019;9(3):303-310
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the current status of communication about death and confidence levels concerning death-related issues among Korean adults.METHODS: A survey was conducted to ascertain the frequency of death related communication, factors promoting and impeding such communication, and confidence levels concerning death-related issues. Data of 112 participants who completed the survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a chi square test, and multiple logistic regression.RESULTS: More than half of the participants (52.7%–84.0%) appeared to have infrequent (never/at least one) conversations about death or death-related issues. Owing to socio-cultural aspects, death-related communication was considered a taboo or an unpleasant topic of conversation. Additionally, indifference toward death inhibited people from communicating; however, personal experiences of death or morbidity and favorable social contexts promoted communication. Overall, the confidence levels concerning death-related issues was low. Only 17.9%–32.2% of the participants were confident/very confident about their preferences concerning death-related issues. The more people talked about death, the more likely they were to develop a confident attitude toward death-related issues (odds ratio, 3.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.37–8.69).CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that communication about death is being withheld among Koreans, and this could possibly lower their level of confidence regarding death-related issues. To achieve death with dignity, a ‘death culture’ needs to be promoted alongside legislation and infrastructure.
