Trends in Death Education Research and Suggestions from a Medical Humanities Perspective

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze trends in death education research over the past five years, propose future directions for the field, and lay the foundation for subsequent studies. A total of 85 domestic papers published in indexed and candidate-indexed journals over the past five years were analyzed, examining them by publication year, publisher, academic journal field, research subjects, research methods, and research approaches. The analysis revealed that the highest number of studies were published in 2020, accounting for 24 papers (28.2%). When analyzing the research participants, excluding 25 papers (29.4%) that did not specify their participants, the largest group was college students, with 19 papers (22.4%). In terms of academic journal fields, 25 papers (29.4%) were published in education journals, 21 (24.7%) in humanities, 14 (16.5%) in interdisciplinary fields, and 13 (15.3%) in medical sciences. Regarding research methods, literature reviews accounted for the highest proportion with 41 papers (48.2%), followed by quantitative research with 21 (24.7%), and qualitative research with 20 (23.5%). The research approach was categorized into philosophical, curriculum and method, sociological, psychological and counseling, and medical-legal perspectives. Furthermore, based on the findings from the medical sciences, this study suggests future directions for death education for medical students from a medical humanities perspective. Death education should be established as an independent subject with supportive programs to humanize medicine and strengthen doctor–patient trust.