Desire to Die Communication Training for Professionals: Developing Online Formats

Palliat Med Rep. 2025 Apr 10;6(1):38-49. doi: 10.1089/pmr.2024.0075. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Severely ill patients often express a desire to die, which can turn into suicidality. To support health professionals in managing this issue, we initially created a two-day face-to-face training to enhance self-confidence, knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Due to the increasing need for more accessible formats, we aimed to transition this training online and develop a complementary website.

METHODS: Multimethod approach to develop and evaluate an online training and a website on dealing with the desire to die in palliative care in Germany. This involved: (1) reviewing literature on effective didactic elements, (2) digitalizing the face-to-face training and creating the website with ongoing expert feedback, and (3) piloting and evaluating these resources through online surveys.

RESULTS: We retrieved suggestions for the development of online trainings and websites from n = 39 publications. Through these results and expert discussion, an online version of our training and a website were developed. For evaluation, we conducted two trainings (face-to-face (n = 8) and online (n = 19)) with multiprofessional participants. All improved significantly in self-confidence after the training without differences between online and face-to-face training. Website evaluation of usability, comprehension, information quality, presentation, and sustainability by n = 71 users yielded favorable feedback with improvement suggestions for structure and plain language.

CONCLUSIONS: Dealing with the desire to die can be taught not only face to face but also through online training and an educational website. This can ensure low-threshold access to scientifically sound information and training units for those health professionals confronted with the desire to die.

PMID:40308715 | PMC:PMC12040540 | DOI:10.1089/pmr.2024.0075