Attributes of Death Acceptance: A Qualitative Study in Thai Buddhist Older Adults with Advanced Chronic Organ Failure
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Abstract
To describe the attributes of death acceptance in Thai Buddhist older adults with advanced chronic organ failure. This qualitative study aimed to explore the attributes of death acceptance in sixteen Thai Buddhist older adults with advanced chronic organ failure in Southern Thailand. Informants were purposively selected if they were: 1) more than 60 years old and adherents to the Buddhist religion; 2) diagnosed with advanced chronic organ failure; 3) considered to have normal levels of consciousness; and 4) willing to talk about death. In-depth interviews with audio-taped records were used in data collection. The qualitative content analysis method was employed to analyze the data. Trustworthiness was established and applied in accordance with the Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. Death acceptance consisted of four attributes: 1) understanding that death is a natural part of life, 2) accepting that death will come one day, 3) having no fear of death, and 4) letting go of life and the earthly existence. This study described four attributes of death acceptance among Thai Buddhist older adults with advanced chronic organ failure. Nurses and healthcare providers can utilize these attributes of death acceptance to assess and understand their patients’ status in order to palliate them appropriately and promote a peaceful death.
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