Longitudinal Follow-Up of Death Anxiety and Psychophysical-Symptom Experience of Participants in the Silent Mentor Program

This study assessed death anxiety (Death Anxiety Questionnaire, DAQ) and psychophysical- (psychological and physical) symptom experience following cadaveric dissection among the Silent Mentor Program (SMP) participants before thawing (T1), after the suturing, dressing and coffining session (T2), and one month post-program (T3). There was a significant decline in the total DAQ score comparing T1 and T2 ( t = 7.69, p < 0.001) and T2 and T3 ( t = 5.00, p < 0.001) and T1 and T3 (t = 10.80, p < 0.001). There was a significant reduction in total psychological-symptom score comparing T1 and T2 ( t = 4.92, p < 0.001) and between T1 and T3 ( t = 4.85, p < 0.001). However, for the physical-symptom experience, a significant increase in the physical-symptom score between T1 and T2 ( t = –3.25, p = 0.001) was reported but the scores reduced significantly one month after the program (T2–T3; t = 4.12, p < 0.001). The mentoring concept of the SMP program has beneficial effects on improving attitude towards death and psychophysical-symptom experience associated with cadaver dissection.