A Queen’s University study is seeking views on “death literacy” across Ireland, asking how well-informed people are about their end-of-life care.
PhD researcher Stephanie Crawford said the issue was increasingly important as health services were “pushed to their limits” due to people living longer and with more complex medical needs.
The research is seeking to understand the population’s knowledge and skills towards death, known as death literacy, so individuals “may live their longer lives healthily and die in a dignified and wanted manner.”
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Ms Crawford said there was not currently not enough information on how well the public were being supported to take such decisions, and if existing policies were addressing the correct issues in different communities.
“This study will validate the death literacy index, which will be the first tool of its kind on the island of Ireland that will help us overcome these challenges,” she said.
Through the study we will validate the tool, investigate what the death literacy of the island currently looks like and calculate average levels of death literacy across the entire Ireland.
“The result of this study is therefore of interest to national organisations and policy makers across the island.”
