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När Döden blir Onaturlig

Niwhede, Erik LU (2023) SOAM21 20222
School of Social Work
Abstract
This study aimed to examine what it means for counsellors in end-of-life care to work closely with death and the dying. The initial hypothesis was that there is something special about being in close contact with dying people and death. A qualitative approach was taken with an initial focus group of four professionals to study this. The goal of the focus group was to acquire knowledge on how this type of end-of-life care is organised. With the knowledge learned through the focus group, an interview guide was constructed that was later implemented in eight semi-structured interviews with counsellors. The study was inspired by traditional Grounded Theory hence the initial hypothesis and the questionnaire were revised several times during the... (More)
This study aimed to examine what it means for counsellors in end-of-life care to work closely with death and the dying. The initial hypothesis was that there is something special about being in close contact with dying people and death. A qualitative approach was taken with an initial focus group of four professionals to study this. The goal of the focus group was to acquire knowledge on how this type of end-of-life care is organised. With the knowledge learned through the focus group, an interview guide was constructed that was later implemented in eight semi-structured interviews with counsellors. The study was inspired by traditional Grounded Theory hence the initial hypothesis and the questionnaire were revised several times during the process. The data was transcribed, organised and analysed through thematic analysis primarily using Arlie R. Hochschild's theory about emotional labour and Norbert Elias's theories about the changes in the societal structures that have led to the loneliness of the dying. The results of the study have shown that the counsellor’s close contact with death and the dying affects them in various ways. They describe both positive and negative experiences brought on by their work. What’s more, they describe certain insights about what’s valuable in their life and how they’ve tried to shift focus to what’s important to them. The counsellors also describe how they’ve tried to prepare family and friends for their eventual death but are met with resistance due to the uncomfortable nature of the subject. (Less)
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author
Niwhede, Erik LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
When Death Becomes Unnatural
course
SOAM21 20222
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Death, Dying, Emotional Labour, End of Life Care, Counselling
language
Swedish
id
9108745
date added to LUP
2023-01-24 22:53:30
date last changed
2023-01-24 22:53:30
@misc{9108745,
  abstract     = {{This study aimed to examine what it means for counsellors in end-of-life care to work closely with death and the dying. The initial hypothesis was that there is something special about being in close contact with dying people and death. A qualitative approach was taken with an initial focus group of four professionals to study this. The goal of the focus group was to acquire knowledge on how this type of end-of-life care is organised. With the knowledge learned through the focus group, an interview guide was constructed that was later implemented in eight semi-structured interviews with counsellors. The study was inspired by traditional Grounded Theory hence the initial hypothesis and the questionnaire were revised several times during the process. The data was transcribed, organised and analysed through thematic analysis primarily using Arlie R. Hochschild's theory about emotional labour and Norbert Elias's theories about the changes in the societal structures that have led to the loneliness of the dying. The results of the study have shown that the counsellor’s close contact with death and the dying affects them in various ways. They describe both positive and negative experiences brought on by their work. What’s more, they describe certain insights about what’s valuable in their life and how they’ve tried to shift focus to what’s important to them. The counsellors also describe how they’ve tried to prepare family and friends for their eventual death but are met with resistance due to the uncomfortable nature of the subject.}},
  author       = {{Niwhede, Erik}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{När Döden blir Onaturlig}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}