An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Older African Americans Concerning End-Of-Life Planning: A Developmental Perspective

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Bradley, Evie L.
Language:	English
Published:	The Ohio State University / OhioLINK 2005
Subjects:	Social Work End-of-life
Online Access:	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1101747852

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spelling	ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu11017478522021-08-03T05:49:29Z An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Older African Americans Concerning End-Of-Life Planning: A Developmental Perspective Bradley, Evie L. Social Work End-of-life This descriptive and exploratory study, guided by a developmental framework, examined how the lived experiences of older African Americans, over the life course, informed their attitudes and beliefs concerning end-of-life planning. A focus group was used to pilot the study. Tape-recorded semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with seven respondents using an open-ended questionnaire. Content analysis was accomplished utilizing grounded theory as an analytic framework. Following this analysis, six core categories emerged: (1) the experience of growing older; (2) coming to know death; (3) making sense of death and loss; (4) cognitive dissonance; (5) measured trust; and (6) race as a constant companion. The findings revealed that respondents had a positive attitude concerning the utility of advance directives, but a reluctance and ambivalence concerning executing them. Family centered decision-making and input were valued in end-of-life care and planning. These older individuals tended to look to their adult children to serve in the role of surrogate decision makers in the event of future decisional incapacity. There was a rejection of heroic medical care or technology in the face of futility. The respondents saw no nobility in pain and suffering and fervently desired effective comfort care in the event of terminal illness. Independence and productivity were most valued. Spirituality was at the core of how these older persons made meaning of death and how they found meaning and purpose in life. 2005-01-06 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1101747852 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1101747852 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection	NDLTD
language	English
sources	NDLTD
topic	Social Work End-of-life
spellingShingle	Social Work End-of-life Bradley, Evie L. An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Older African Americans Concerning End-Of-Life Planning: A Developmental Perspective
author	Bradley, Evie L.
author_facet	Bradley, Evie L.
author_sort	Bradley, Evie L.
title	An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Older African Americans Concerning End-Of-Life Planning: A Developmental Perspective
title_short	An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Older African Americans Concerning End-Of-Life Planning: A Developmental Perspective
title_full	An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Older African Americans Concerning End-Of-Life Planning: A Developmental Perspective
title_fullStr	An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Older African Americans Concerning End-Of-Life Planning: A Developmental Perspective
title_full_unstemmed	An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Older African Americans Concerning End-Of-Life Planning: A Developmental Perspective
title_sort	exploratory study of the attitudes and beliefs of older african americans concerning end-of-life planning: a developmental perspective
publisher	The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
publishDate	2005
url	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1101747852
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An Exploratory Study of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Older African Americans Concerning End-Of-Life Planning: A Developmental Perspective

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