Effect of Gerotranscendence Educational Program on Death Anxiety among the Elderly

Abstract

Background: Theory of gerotranscendence is a framework to plan for good aging and death anxiety among the elderly is important issue needs to planning.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a gerotranscendence educational program on death anxiety among the elderly.Method: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on the elderly referring to two primary health services centers in Mashhad, Iran, within June-July 2021. Participants were selected using the purposive sampling method and non-randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control (n=25 each). The elderly in the intervention group received three video files based on the dimensions of the theory of gerotranscendence. They discussed and practiced the strategies of gerotranscendence in a virtual group for 3 weeks. The control group had normal activities in their usual virtual groups. Both groups completed the Templer Death Anxiety Scale at the pretest and 2 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS21.Results: Mean age of the elderly were 66.36±5.55 years, and 54% of the participants were male. Mean anxiety score in the intervention group was significantly reduced (z=-0.377, P<0.0001). Mean change of anxiety score before and after the intervention in the intervention group (1.8±1.75) was significantly higher than the control group (0.08±1.97); (z=-2.876, P=0.004).Implications for Practice: The gerotranscendence educational program (educational videos and virtual sessions) reduced the death anxiety among the elderly. Therefore, the use of this educational program package in primary health services centers can be an efficient and low-cost method to reduce death anxiety among the community-living elderly.

Keywords

• death anxiety
• education
• elderly
• geriatric health
• geriatric nursing
• theory of gerotranscendence