Validation and Effectiveness of the Facing Death Training Package on Hopefulness in the Elderly
Keywords:
Effectiveness, Confrontation Training Package, Hope, ElderlyAbstract
Objective: The primary aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of elderly individuals regarding impending death, to develop a Facing Death Training Package, and to validate and evaluate its effectiveness on hopefulness in the elderly.
Methods and Materials: This mixed-method study consisted of a qualitative phase using phenomenological analysis of interviews with 14 elderly residents of a Tehran nursing home. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed via open, axial, and selective coding. In the quantitative phase, a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test and control group (10 participants per group) was used. The hopefulness questionnaire developed by Snyder et al. (1991) served as the measurement tool. Based on qualitative findings, a ten-session training package was developed, validated through CVR content validity index by 12 experts, and administered to the experimental group over 8 weeks.
Findings: ANCOVA results showed a significant improvement in hope scores in the experimental group (F=70.169, p<0.001, η²=0.805). All participants in the experimental group demonstrated statistically reliable improvement (RCI > 1.96), although only one reached clinical significance based on the cutoff score. The training package had a strong effect on enhancing hopefulness in the elderly.
Conclusion: The findings confirm that confronting death through structured educational interventions can significantly enhance elderly individuals’ levels of hope. Implementing such programs in elderly care settings may improve psychological well-being and quality of life among aging populations.
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