Existential and Spiritual Issues in Death Attitudes

Interdisciplinary palliative care teams : insights and experiences of chaplain interns and social work interns.

“…An existential approach for the interdisciplinary palliative care team was evidenced by the queries posed by patients and families, which were often concentrated on what was precious, unique, or problematic in their lives (Tomer & Eliason, 2008).…”

“…The threat of death may deepen one's spirituality and also transform the way one sees oneself as well as the way one sees death (Tomer & Eliason, 2008). Tomer and Eliason (2008) proposed an existential model of death anxiety that includes death salience, belief systems about the self and the world, and three precursors:…”

“…Existentialism is concerned with the here and now, the world of the patient, awareness of time, and the quality of transcendence (i.e., experience beyond the normal level; May & Yalom, 1995). Death often creates an urgency to live by ignoring the trivial and living authentically (Tomer & Eliason, 2008). The aspects of existentialism are suitable as a theoretical framework to view the needs of the dying and also those who care for them (e.g., the family and the interdisciplinary palliative care team).…”

“…The intensity of death salience is related to one's exposure to death, either their own or other's deaths in their lives, which are affected by the importance of the relationship, amount of emotional attachment, and the newness of the loss. One's self-beliefs involve self-esteem, control, and insight about integrity (Tomer & Eliason, 2008).…”

“…An existential approach is an appropriate framework for the work of the interdisciplinary palliative care team because as patients approach death, they often focus on what is unique, precious, or problematic in their existence (Tomer & Eliason, 2008). …”