On death and dying: reframing perspectives of healthcare students through the impact of thanatology education

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether Health students subjected to a pedagogical intervention became more comfortable, skilled, and humanized in their actions and reactions toward death and dying. Methods: To conduct the study, a descriptive qualitative methodology was employed, using the interpretative ethnographic method. The research techniques applied included direct observation, with non-verbal data recorded in a field diary, and semi-structured interviews, following a specific guide. The data collected through the notes and interview recordings were systematized and then analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Results: It became evident that students previously experienced a scenario of insecurity, vulnerability, anxiety, and difficulty in dealing with the inevitable. However, through the pedagogic intervention, students reported significant transformations in their perspectives on dying, becoming more confident, secure, capable, and humane in coping with this reality. Moreover, they advocated for the comprehensive inclusion of such initiatives in Brazilian higher education. Conclusion: We conclude that education in Thanatology is important in the training of Health students and that higher education institutions should, therefore, consider its inclusion in the academic curriculum.