COMPARING THE DIFFERENCE IN NURSES' KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES (NDES) BEFORE AND AFTER RECEIVING NDE EDUCATION
Renata B McAllister
Scholars Crossing August 29, 2026 DOI: 10.13140/rg.2.2.14411.76327 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 41 |
| Population | Registered nurses employed in Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities |
| Intervention | Three-part asynchronous training on NDEs |
| Duration | 1-week delayed posttest |
| Measures | Knowledge and Attitudes About Near-Death Experiences Scale (KANDES) |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Key findings | Knowledge and attitudes about NDEs were positively related at pretest and posttest, and both increased significantly from pretest to one-week delayed posttest after the asynchronous training. |
Abstract
Near-death experiences (NDEs) have been reported in approximately 6.3% to 39.3% of patients who survived death or critical illness. Research indicated that health care professionals, of whom nurses are the largest group, received little education or training on NDEs. Nurses' responses to a disclosure could help the patient integrate the experience or contribute to stress and isolation. National nursing standards do not address education or competencies specific to NDEs, and few studies have examined educational programs on the topic. This quasi-experimental study examined changes in nurses' knowledge and attitudes before and after a three-part asynchronous training on NDEs, measured with the Knowledge and Attitudes About Near-Death Experiences Scale (KANDES). The research questions addressed the relationship between knowledge and attitudes and the changes in each after training. Participants were 41 registered nurses employed in Kaiser Permanente (KP) Northern California facilities. They completed a pretest, three asynchronous modules, and a 1-week delayed posttest through a secure online survey platform, along with a demographic questionnaire. The analysis used descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho, a paired-samples t test, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Knowledge and attitudes were positively related at both the pretest and the posttest, and both increased significantly from the pretest to the 1-week delayed posttest. All four alternative hypotheses were supported. The findings may inform nursing continuing education and future research on NDE training for health care professionals.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
-
Knowledge and attitudes about NDEs were positively related and both increased significantly from pretest to one-week delayed posttest after a three-part asynchronous training.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain activity in near-death experiencers during a meditative state Near-death experiencers | 2009 | Within-subjects experimental design with Meditation and Control conditions | |
| Meditation-Induced Near-Death Experiences: a 3-Year Longitudinal Study Advanced Buddhist meditators | 2018 | Longitudinal within-subjects comparison with control conditions and embedded qualitative analysis | n = 12 |
| EEG signature of near-death-like experiences during syncope-induced periods of unresponsiveness. Healthy volunteers | 2024 | Experimental study | n = 22 |
| Designing a "Near-Death Experience" Reality Testing System. | 2021 | Experimental design | |
| Teaching about near-death experiences: the effectiveness of using The Day I Died. Advanced undergraduates at a southwestern university (66 in the experimental group; 39... | 2011 | Quasi-experimental study | n = 105 |