A Study on the Understanding and Impact of Life Education on End-of-Life Concepts among the Elderly

Background/ObjectivesAfter entering a super-aged society, the clarity of self-worth and beliefs becomes particularly important for the elderly when facing illness and death. Life education can effectively assist in decision-making at the end of life, enhancing quality of life and dignity. In 2025, Taiwan will enter a super-aged society, and the government has introduced the Patient Autonomy Law to promote patient autonomy through Advance Care Planning (ACP) in specific clinical situations, aiming to achieve a dignified end of life. However, challenges remain in the promotion process. Previous research on medical autonomy and end-of-life concepts has primarily focused on terminal cancer patients and their families. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature regarding the perspectives of healthy older adults on a dignified end of life and to provide references and recommendations for future life education targeting this group. MethodsThis study employs a quasi-experimental design and utilizes a cross-sectional survey method. It analyzes older learners aged 55 and above in southern Taiwan (including Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, and Pingtung County), who are randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention involves multimedia teaching to assess their understanding and acceptance of end-of-life concepts. A shortened version of the Miyoshi questionnaire is used to evaluate these concepts, combined with items related to medical autonomy for older adults, with pre- and post-intervention measurements. Data processing involves repeated measures t-tests and analysis of covariance, with data analysis conducted using SPSS 22.0. The research instruments underwent item analysis and exploratory analysis. ResultsThis study explores the impact of an intervention program on sen-ior learners perceptions of end-of-life concepts and medical autonomy. The results in-dicate that the experimental group experienced significant improvements in pre- and post-test scores across four dimensions: peaceful passing, informed consent, death awareness, and medical autonomy, with particularly notable effects in the areas of peaceful passing and death awareness. The research highlights that "disclosure of medical conditions" and "doctor-patient communication," through a biomedical model or empirical principles, can effectively enhance doctor-patient interactions. Quantita-tive pre- and post-test scores demonstrate significant outcomes in clinical practice. ConclusionFacing the challenges of a super-aged society, the desire of the elderly for autonomy in choice and dignified death is increasingly growing. This study explores the concept of end-of-life among older learners in southern Taiwan. The results indicate that multimedia teaching provides a flexible learning model that enhances learners sense of participation. Through interaction and visual design, older adults can more effectively grasp and deeply understand complex concepts such as medical autonomy, dignified death, psychological preparedness, and quality of life. This not only addresses the challenges of promoting medical autonomy but also provides references for future policy formulation concerning the elderly.