What Constitutes a "Good Death"?-A Representative Cross-Sectional Survey Among the General Public in Croatia

Omega (Westport). 2023 Mar;86(4):1415-1431. doi: 10.1177/00302228211010597. Epub 2021 May 3.

Abstract

Understanding the attitudes of a particular society on a "good death" is important when it comes to end-of-life decision-making and palliative care. In the Republic of Croatia no systematic research has been done on the attitudes of the general population about the concept of a "good death". This cross sectional survey was conducted on a three-stage random sample, stratified by regions, counties and locations within those counties (N = 1203) during November and December, 2019. ANOVA, to determine differences, factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used. The most important characteristics of a good death outlined by the respondents were: the absence of pain, the presence and unencumberedness of family and loved ones, the importance of a sense of fulfilment and meaning in life in this regard, reconciliation with God, the presence of awareness and sobriety, and the possibility of treatment.

Keywords: Croatia; attitudes to death; dying; general public; good death.

MeSH terms

  • Croatia
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Palliative Care
  • Regression Analysis
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Terminal Care*