Data collection for the DLI-Estonian Death Awareness Study has been completed, and a thorough analysis of the responses is currently underway. This study garnered more interest than expected. A total of nearly 1,400 people participated, of whom 1,146 completed the questionnaires in full.
In addition to their questionnaire responses, many participants shared their personal experiences, thoughts, and observations on the topics of death, grief, caregiving, and end-of-life care in the open-ended text field. Several respondents also drew attention to topics that the existing death literacy index did not address or that could be explored more thoroughly in the future. As a result, the study has become much more than just filling out a questionnaire; it has provided an opportunity to discuss topics that are often underdiscussed in society.
This analysis helps us better understand how Estonians perceive death, dying, grief, and caring for a loved one, as well as what knowledge, skills, and support they need in these situations. We can also assess how well the internationally used death awareness metric fits into Estonia’s cultural and social context.
If you’d like to learn more about the results, be sure to stay tuned. In the coming months, we’ll be sharing our initial findings, fascinating insights, and stories about what Estonians’ responses tell us about death, grief, and care. There is a lot of interesting content ahead.
