Use of the Decision Case Method of Teaching in a Course on Death and Grief

Abstract

As a key professional and essential team member, social workers must be adequately prepared to address the complexities and challenges inherent in palliative, hospice, and bereavement care. Decision case method teaching is one means of exposing students to practice situations they may face and stimulating collaborative decision making in the classroom. This article explores the use of the decision case method in a master's level course on death and dying.

The Impact of Death Education on Fear of Death and Death Anxiety Among Human Services Students

“…This finding is consistent with previous studies conducted with undergraduate students and nurses (Barrere et al, 2008;Hurtig & Stewin, 1990;Wong, 2009). The result also supports effects of death education as reported by social worker and counseling students in qualitative studies (Harrawood et al, 2011;Head, 2008).…”

“…It is clear there is a near universal agreement on the need for the inclusion of death education in the training of helping professionals. Within a pedagogical and professional context, this current approach leaves frontline health care practitioners lacking the information, skills, and, self-awareness necessary to provide effective psychosocial services to this population (Head, 2008).…”

“…Social work educators utilizing the "decision case method" found that students overwhelmingly (97%) reported that DD&B education had not only significantly improved their preparation for working with the dying but also had a positive effect on their own personal feelings and attitudes about DD&B (Head, 2008). In another qualitative study, Harrawood et al (2011) found that advanced counseling students reported feeling less anxious and fearful regarding DD&B from a personal standpoint after receiving DD&B education.…”

“…Although no quantitative study on the impact of death education on social workers could be found in the literature, qualitative research on the effects of the addition of DD&B education to an advanced social work program curriculum found that students felt better prepared for social work practice with a dying population after participating in the course. Social work educators utilizing the “decision case method” found that students overwhelmingly (97%) reported that DD&B education had not only significantly improved their preparation for working with the dying but also had a positive effect on their own personal feelings and attitudes about DD&B (Head, 2008). In another qualitative study, Harrawood et al.…”

A Qualitative Evaluation of the Provision of Bereavement Care Accessed by Service Users Living in a Health and Social Care Trust Area in Northern Ireland

“…In the USA, social workers practice as integral members of hospice teams, with a nationally recognized role (Head, 2008;Lawson, 2007). The role of the social worker focuses on the prebereavement period dealing with anticipatory grief, while a bereavement counselor's involvement begins after the death.…”