The Effects of Learning About Deathbed Visions (DBVs) on Students’ Knowledge About DBVs and Levels of Death Anxiety

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of learning about deathbed visions (DBVs) on undergraduate students’ knowledge about DBVs and their levels of death anxiety. Twenty-two students were randomly assigned to a training group (received a 20-minute lecture and slides on DBVs) and 28 students served as an equivalent control (no training) group. Both groups completed a fear of death scale and a DBV knowledge questionnaire on two occasions (approximately one week before and immediately after the training group received the training). Participants in the training group experienced a significant increase in knowledge about DBVs following training compared to the no training group which showed virtually no change in knowledge about DBVs from pre- to post-test. No effect of training on participants’ levels of death anxiety was found. Suggestions for future research are offered.