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An international survey of Death Doula training organizations: the views of those driving Death Doula training and role enactment

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posted on 2024-02-23, 05:11 authored by D Rawlings, Lauren Miller-LewisLauren Miller-Lewis, J Tieman, K Swetenham

Context: Death Doulas are working globally to provide non-medical end-of-life care. They have different training experiences and views on the role and whether it should be standardised. 

Objective: To seek the views of organisations responsible for training Death Doulas in order to determine what the drivers are behind this emerging role. 

Methods: We conducted an online survey with Death Doula training organisations in five countries utilising both a targeted and snowball approach. Qualitative analysis was undertaken with themes pre-determined (apriori) due to the nature of the survey categories. 

Results: In total, representatives from 13 organisations in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, United Kingdom, and United States responded. The organisations had provided training for 0 to 20 years, with one just starting and another training birth doulas and now expanding. Owners and trainers hold an array of qualifications such as academic, medical, non-medical, and life experience. Curricula have usually been developed locally, and not always included pedagogical consideration, a strategic business model, nor mapping processes such as gap analysis. The organisations are run similarly, and curricula have several consistent topics but with distinctly different approaches. Trainers’ views are also mixed about the way to proceed with registration of the Death Doula role. 

Conclusion: The contrasting views of training organisations explain much of the ambiguity of Death Doulas themselves regarding standardisation of registration, education and role enactment. If heading towards the ultimate goal of professionalisation of the role then a challenging path lies ahead with little in the way of agreement in what this would require.

History

Volume

16

Start Page

1

End Page

12

Number of Pages

12

eISSN

2632-3524

ISSN

2632-3524

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Publisher License

CC BY-NC

Additional Rights

cc- by nc

Language

en

Peer Reviewed

  • Yes

Open Access

  • Yes

Acceptance Date

2022-08-11

Author Research Institute

  • Appleton Institute

Era Eligible

  • Yes

Medium

Electronic-eCollection

Journal

Palliative Care and Social Practice

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