EDITORIAL LIST
Editor-in-chief
Prof. Adebayo Lawal
(Director. Inst. of Educ)
Managing Editor
Dr. S. B. Olajide
(Dept. of CSET)
Editorial Board Members
Dr. (Mrs) A. T. Alabi
(Dept. of Edu. Magt)
Dr. (Mrs.) M. f. Salman
Dept, of CEST)
Dr. S. Amaele
(Dept. Of Edu. Foundations)
DR. O. A. Oniye
(Dept. of G & C)
Mr. O, A. Onifade
(Dept of PHE)
Consulting Editors
Prof. Babatunde Ipaye
(Dept. of G & C)
A.B.U. Zaria
Prof. (Mrs.) Eunice Okeke
(Department of Education)
UNN Nzukka
Prof. M Ajibero
Librarian
University of Ilorin, Ilorin
Prof. Taoheed Adedoja
(Dept of PHE)
B. U. K Kano
Prof. David Jiboyewa
(Dept of Education)
University of Maiduguri
Prof. O. J. Ehindero
(Dept. of Curriculum Studies)
O.A.U Ife
Prof. M. B. Ogunniyi
Director & the UNESCO Chair
School of Science & Maths Ed
University of the Western Cape
South Africa
Prof. Samuel Ayodele
Institute of Education
University of Ibadan
Prof. Shehu Jimoh
(Dept. of Educational Foundations)
University of Ilorin
NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS
DR. A. ABDULKAREEM is a Senior Lecturer the Department of Educational
Management University of Ilorin.
DR. A. O. ADEGBOYE, formerly Deputy Provost (Academics) is a Chief Lecturer
in the Depart of Mathematics, Kwara State College-of Education, Ilorin.
MR. Z. ADESPLAM is a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Music, Kwara State
College of Education, Ilorin.
DR. S. AMAELE is a Lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations,
University of Ilorin.
DR. B. T. DANMOLE is a Senior lecturer in Department of curriculum, Studies
and Educational Technology, University of Ilorin.
DR. M. A. FAKOMOGBON is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum
Studies and Educational Technology, University of Ilorin.
DR.
R. A. E. IHEANACHO is a Lecturer in the Department of Educational
Foundations, University of Calabar, Calabar
DR. M. A. KAYODE is a Principal Lecturer and Dean of the School of Education,
Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
DR. Y. Y. MUSLIM is a Lecturer at the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Satelite Campus,
Saki.
DR. F. O. OGUNLADE is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
MR. O. A. ONIFADE is a Lecturer in the Department of Education, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria.
DR. E. O. OMOSEWO is a Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum Studies
and Educational Technology, University of Ilorin
MR. O. L. OLAITAN is a Lecturer in the Department of Health and Physical
Education, University of Ilorin.
DR. S. A. ONASANYA is a Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum Studies
and Education Technology, University of Ilorin.
MRS. I. B. OMORODION is a Lecturer in the Institute of Fresh Water Fisheries
Research, New-Bussa.
DR. R. OMOTOYE is a Lecturer in the Department of Religion, University of
Ilorin.
DR. A. A.
OLAOYE is a the Assistant Director of Programmes National
Commission for Colleges of Education, Abuja, FCT.
DR. M. D. SALMAN is a Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum Studies and
Educational Technology, University of Ilorin.
MR. S. SANUSI is a Lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations,
Kwara State College of Education, Oro.
Copyright 2003 Institute of Educational University of Ilorin
ISSN 0795-2199
INSTITUTE JOURNAL
OF STUDIES IN
EDUCATION
PUBLISHED BY
INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN,
ILORIN, NIGERIA
VOL. 1 NO. 5
JUNE, 2003.
EDITORIAL
The Institute Journal of Studies in Education (IJSE) is a publication of the
University of Ilorin. The journal is devoted to publishing empirical and theoretical
research in all areas of education. Its readership and contributorship have
increased over the years, and we are proud to state that it continues to enjoy
National and International acceptability, having found eminent position on the
shelves of many Universities’ and Public Libraries both at home and abroad.
This volume contains twenty well edited articles covering specific areas of
and practice of Education and touching, among other, on Mathematics, Science,
Social Science and Educational Technology, all of which readers will find very
stimulating and rewarding.
IJSE continues to welcome articles from contributors along our policy
guidelines. It is our hope that the standard already established will to be a
propelling force behind future publications.
Professor R. A. Lawal
Editor-in-Chief
INSTITUTE JOURNAL OF STUDIES IN EDUCATION
VOL 1, NO.5.
ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE
JUNE 2003
PAGE
An analysis of school plant maintenance practices in
Kwara State Secondary Schools -A. Y. Abdulkareem
1
The genesis of the problems confronting mathematics education
in Nigeria secondary schools and the solutions to the problem
-A. O. Adegboye
12
The role of Music in early childhood education -Z. A. Adesokan
24
Reactions of senior secondary school students to Islamic studies
questions in Arabic Language -U. A. Ajidagba
33
The Nigerian teacher: Expectations, challenges and way forward
-S. Amaele
40
Integrating formal and informal science for development:
Implications for education and training - B. T. Danmole
55
Problems of using foreign instructional media in the Nigerian schools
M. Fakomogbon
62
Techniques for solving adolescents’ vocational crisis
R..A.E. Iheanacho
73
Relationship among cognitive styles, locus of control and academic
Education Achievement of secondary school students -M.A.Kayode
Effective study skills for a meaningful and purposeful polytechnic
80
education Y. Y. Muslim
93
Philosophic thought on traditional Nigerian child-rearing –
An appraisal F. O. Ogunlade
102
Contemporary issues in industrial safety.-O. A. Onifade
121
Factors influencing female students’ choice of physics in selected
secondary school in Ilorin metropolis —E. O. Omosewo
131
The feelings and attitudes of people about death and dying on
terminal illnesses O. L. Olaitan
141
Relevance of computer technology in education research -S. A. Onasanya 15 I
English language teaching and learning as a branch of applied
linguistics; the example of computer Assisted language learning (CALL)
-I. B. Omorodima
164
Causes of students lack of interest in Christian religious studies in harm
metropolis -R.Oinotoye
175
Causes of slow curriculum and institutional change in Nigeria: A political
and social-linguistic consideration -A. A. Olaoye
185
Using games to teach geometrical plane shapes at the primary school level:
The examples of TESTOM -S. Salman
195
Performance enhancement strategy for educational services in Nigeria
-B. Sanusi
205
THE FEELINGS AND ATTITUDES OF PEOPLE ABOUT DEATH AND DYING
ON TERMINAL ILLNESSES
BY
L. 0. OLAITAN
Abstract
The research was carried out to study the feelings and attitudes of people about
death and dying on terminal illnesses. The multistage sampling technique from
20 private hospitals in Ibadan was used to select 200 nurses, 140 females and
60 males. Mean (X.) and percentages were used to analyse the data collected,
while the t-test statistical method was employed to lest the hypothesis
formulated at a=0. 05 level of confidence. Based on the findings that no
signIcant difference existed between the feelings and attitudes of people about
death and dying on terminal illnesses. It was recommended that people should
involve in health insurance policy, make ci “will’for their survivors, and that the
government should plan the inclusion of death and dying education in school
curriculum.
Introduction
Traditionally, the attitude of a society towards death has been a function of its
religious beliefs. To the extent that theological or sacred doctrines prevail within
society, death generally does not constitute an important challenge to human
beings’ self-concept. The individual regards death as natural and preordained.
Within such a theoretical structure, we could stand relatively secure in the
knowledge that death was a personal matter between God and ourselves.
According to Fulton (1964), “the very purposefulness of his death placed him at
the center of existence and elevated him above all other creatures as the
principal subject of creation”. Death could be confronted openly, spoken of
freely, and treated as a natural phenomenon. The context, within which death is
experienced in the United, States, and the general reaction to death, have
changed dramatically within the last few decades. For example, in this count
death is no longer exclusively a matter of religious concern, bu increasingly
subject of scientific concern, but increasingly a subject of scientific investigation.
Philosophers have assumed that death pert ins to the essence of human life, to
its existential fulfillment. Moreover, the comprehended acceptance of death was
considered as the prerogative of man, the very token of his freedom. Death, and
only death, brought existence into its own. Its final negation was considered as
the affirmation of man’s faculties and ends (Feifel, 1959).
Death assumed the force of an institution which, because of its vital utility,
should not be changed, even if it could perhaps be changed. The species
perpetuate itself through the death of individuals; this is fact. Society
perpetuates itself though the death of individuals; this is no longer a natural but
an historical fact. The two facts are not equivalent. In the first proposition, death
is a biological event: disintegration of organic into inorganic matter. In the
second proposition, death is an institution and a value: the cohesion of the social
order depends to a considerable extent on the effectiveness with which
individuals comply with death and more than a natural necessity; on their
willingness, even urge, to die many deaths, which are not natural; on other
agreement to sacrifice themselves aiid not to fight death “too much.
To Die or Not To Die
Death remains a reality that relatively few people or face. We try to live as
if it could not happen to us or to those whom we love. At the same time we live
under a primitive shadow of fear. When the death of a parent, child, or loved
one occurs, we suffer not only grief but also a sense of’ guilt for not having done
more, or for past feelings and thoughts. During the present decade a new
medical specialty has begun to emerge, known as thanatology, or the
psychosociology of death. Nurses, physicians, and social workers are studying
and attending to the psychosocial problems faced by patients who are
threatened with death problems that also must be faced by patients who are
threatened with death problems that also must be faced by their families,
friends, and associates.
The individual realizes the de is inevitable. It is a phenomenon associated
with life itself. What 0C do5’t know is when or how one’s own death will occur.
Many intellectualize death as if it pertains t another death, and not to
themselves. This is because we are basically future-oriented, planning the future
as if we will live forever. While one is free of illness and the threat limited future,
such behaviour is normal. It does not imply denial. However, as losses of
functions or parts of the body death and denial sometimes become fused
together. Denial for many individuals is a coping mechanism, one that enables
them to guard against the threat of death or dying
The terminal phase of life
The person judge by the physician to be terminally ill or at risk, and not
simply old and sick. The experienced physicians know what to expect with regard
to the progress of illness, although they are sometimes surprised. There are
some of the physician situations of the dying person and some of the options
that remains to the physician
Purpose of the Study
The study was conducted find out the feelings and attitudes of terminal
illnesses. Also, to determine their behaviour towards the terminally ill patients.
Hypothesis
There will be no significant difference between feelings and attitudes of
people about death and dying on terminal illness
Method and Materials
Two hundred nurses, 60 males and 140 females were randomly selected
from 20 private hospitals in Ibadan. Each of them responded to the
questionnaire individually to guide against possibility of being influenced by
others and the copies of the questionnaire were collected the same day. Mean
(X) and percentage (%) ‘1vere used to analyze the data collected while t-test
statistical method was employed to test the
hypothesis formulated at ct 0.05 level of significance.
Results
The findings have thrown more light on the feelings and attitudes
of nurses toward death.
Table I showed that 20 (10%) of respondents would feel
comfortable having been determined that they are terminally ill and hear
that they will die in the next three months. This is line with Fletcher’s
statement in Bumside (1980) that, it is the living that fear death, not the
dying. One hundred and eight (90%) respondents would not feel comfortable to
hear such news that they would die, this shows that, death is an unpleasant
thing. Kalish (1967) said that, the expressions of sense of impe:. Jing death may
not be “hear” or believed by the listener.
One hundred and sixty (80%) of the respondents would suffer from
trouble of falling asleep (insomnia) and only 40 (20%) will not suffer insomnia.
This can be related to the Kubler-Ross’s second stage of dying in which the
person will be full of anger, rage, anxiety, restlessness and general irritation.
Also, 120 (60%) would feel nervous and anxious most of the time, while 80
(40%) would not. This can be correlated with the above sentence in which
Kubler-Ross stated that anger, rage, anxiety, etc, are parts of what take place at
the second stage of dying. One hundred and forty (70%) would suffer from lack
of sexual desire and 60 (30%) would not, this is indicative of not being in mood
to engage in fun play. This• means that, “covert reaction determines overt
reaction”
One hundred and forty (70%) would not agree that they would die at that
time but 60 (30%) would not deny it. This denial is in line with the first stage of
death by Kubler-Ross, i.e. Denial during which statemént like, “no!, not me!, I
rebuke it!, you are lying!, I cannot die like that!, etc” will fill the mouth of the
dying person.
Only 80 (40%) would pass through Kubler-Ross’s second stage dying, and
120 (60%) would not be angry, this is perhaps, the r’ population know what it is
to be suffering from terminal illness before the death comes. Although, 160 (8
0%) would persuade God to delay their death, while only 40 (20%) would not
bother themselves. This is in line with the Kubler-Ross’s third stage of dying
during which the individual is bargaining with death.
Furthermore 140 (70%) would suffer depression and 60 (3 0%) would
not, this is synonymous with what happens in Kubler-Ross’s fourth stage of dying
in which the individual is full of depression, at this stage individual waits for the
last stage which is acceptance which isthe last phase of dying will definitely come
to every individual Wirdmill, 19992).
Lastly, 192 (96%) would say death is a transitional state to the great
beyond according to their religions while, only 8 (4%) would not believe such.
This may be because most of the respondents are either Christians or Muslims
and no atheist was among the respondents.
TABLE 1: RESPONSES OF THE FEELINGS OF NURSES TOWARDS DEATH
S/N
Items: Suppose you have been determined that you will de in the
Yes
%
Yes
No
%
No
next 3 months due to a terminally ill disease you are suffering from:
1.
Would you feel conformable?
20
10
180
90
2.
Would you suffer form trouble of falling asleep (insomnia)?
160
80
40
20
3.
Would you be feeling nervous and anxious most of the time?
120
60
80
40
4.
Would you suffer from lack of sexual desired?
140
70
60
30
5.
Would you deny the fact that you will die in that time?
140
70
60
30
6.
Would you suffer from irritability or bursts of anger?
80
40
120
60
7.
Would you try to persuade God, the physician or other power to
160
80
40
20
140
70
60
30
180
90
20
10
192
96
8
4
133.2
66.6
66.8
33.4
delay your death?
8.
Would you suffer low spirit or depression or sadness most of the
time?
9.
Would you finally accept the death if the time has obviously come
and has less emotional pain and less impulse to contest fate?
10.
Would you say death is a transitional state to the great beyond
according to your religion?
Mean (x)
Ii table 2 below, 156 (78%) would like to be using the best of their
clothes of properties before they die, while 44 (22%) would not. This may be
because, their attitudes are full of enjoying their wealth before any other person
will come and take over things. One hundred and sixty-four (82%) believed in
spending all they have on their unpromising health status, while those that want
to spend what they have will not support euthanasia and neither would they
support the statement “let me die, have lived long enough”
One hundred and four (52%) would stay indoor most of the time. having
heard such news and 96 (48%) would continue to go out as usual. This shows
that whether outdoor or indoor death will come when it will come. In the issue of
“living will”, 100 (50%) each supported it and c not support respectively. It is
believed that those that would make “living will’ don’t fear death. Also, in making
a “will” for the survivors 196 (98%) supported this, but only4 (2%) opposed this.
This means making a will for the survivors is paramount in the mind of the nurse
before dying and after death. One hundred and eighty-four (92%) would refuse
to eat having heard such news while only 16 (80%) would co to eat normally.
Those that would not eat is in line with those who belie’ in voluntary and direct
euthanasia that can be termed, suicidal in legal terms (Udoh, 2000).
Surprisingly, no one out of the 200 respondents was in support mercy
killing. (euthanasia), all the 200 (100%) were against it. Mercy killing in African
context is not yet a reality. Sixteen (8%) would prefer to die in the hospice,
while 196 (92%) would prefer in the hospital. This shows that, nurses know the
value of hospital care and prefer to die the perhaps there could be any other
new technology in medicine to take care of the formally proclaimed terminal
illness. Furthermore, as in the great your previous sentence, no one can say, “let
me die, I have lived long enough” as the whole 200 (100%) were against the
statement. This result is contrary to a statement in Burnside (1980) that, “let me
die, I have lived long enough”
All the 200 (100%) would not want their body to be cremated after death,
that is perhaps the cultural believe is that whosoever died should be buried
according to their religions’ rites. One hundred (50%) would prefer that their
status should be made for commemoration for heroic measure probably for
remembrance and also 100 (50%) do not want such, believing that after death
nobody knows what takes place afterwards.
TABLE 2:
RESPONSES ON THE ATTITUDES OF THE NURSES
TOWARDS DEATH
S/N
Items: Suppose you have been determined that you will de in
Yes
% Yes
No
%
No
156
78
44
22
164
82
36
18
the next 3 months due to a terminally ill disease you are
suffering from:
11
Would you like to be using the best of your clothes or
properties
12.
Would you like to continue to spend all you have may be you
might recover?
13.
Would you stay indoor most or all of the time?
104
52
96
48
14.
Would you like to make a “living will” that you should not be
100
50
100
50
kept alive by artificial means inc case you are unconscious?
15.
Would you like to make a ‘will’ for your surviviors?
196
98
4
2
16.
Would you refuse to eat or drink till the time comes?
184
92
16
8
17.
Would you want your doctor to help you to die a good death
0
0
200
100
(euthanasia)
18.
Would you prefer to die in the hospice rather than hospital?
16
81
196
92
19.
Can you say “let me die; I have lived long enough”?
0
0
200
100
20.
Would you like to be cremated rather than being buried?
0
0
200
100
21.
Would you like your status to be made as commemoration for
100
500
100
50
heroic measure?
22.
Would you like to be buried with the best of your clothes?
32
16
168
84
23.
Would you like your burial ceremony to be elaborate>
176
88
24
12
24.
Would you like your body to be embalmed and display for lying
24
12
176
88
156
878
44
22
106.12
53.07
in-state
25.
Would you like to donate any of your organs or whole body for
other?
Mean (x)
93.88
46.93
Only 32 (16%) would like to be buried with the best of their clothes 168
(84%) would not bother on whatever type of clothe used to bury them. One
hundred and seventy-six (88%) would want their burial ceremony to be
elaborate, and only 24 (12%) would not want such believing that money spent
on burial ceremony is a waste and the former believed that it is necessary to
display wealth believing that, this indicates how usefulness and important the
person that died was.
Twenty-four (12%) would want tpeir body to be embalmed and display
for lying-in-state, while 176 (88%) would not want it because it is believed that it
would forth sorrowful moments for the dependants while in lying-in-state
position.
Finally 157 (78%) of the nurses would like their body organs to be used
on others, who might need them either for researches or other purposes, but
only 44 (22%) detested such attitude, which is indicative of not wanting their
body or the organs to be used for any other purposes rather than burying.
In table 3, since the calculated t-value of 24.3 58 is less than the critical
value of 2.069. the hypothesis formulated was hereby rejected showing that
significant difference existed between feelings and attitudes of people about
death and dying on terminal illnesses. Thus, people’s feelings affect their
attitudes on many issues.
TABLE 3:
HYPOTHESIS TESTING ON FEELINGS AND ATTITUDES OF
NURSES ON DEATH AND DYING ON TERMINAL ILLNESSES.
N = 200
Variables
Means (X)
SD
Feelings
133.2
4.9447
Attitudes
93.88
1.5528
Cale t Value
24.358
Decision on HO
Rejected
Conclusion and Recommendations
The feelings of people having been determined that they will die in the
next three months after the confirmation that they are terminally ill were in
diversity. While some sets of people believed that “death is a necessary end and
is inevitable”, other denied this saying that, it would be better for all terminal
diseases to have a curative measures.
Death is a threat to some people especially the young and the well-do
successful ones who want to remain alive to enjoy the adulthood life with their
wealth.
However, the religious belief has made some people to perceive death as
a transitional state to a better-unknown realm. Some nurses can death as a
threat, others see it as a natural phenomenon that cannot be Majorities of them
believe in life after death and they perceived earth as a transition to the great
beyond in accordance with their various sects.
It is hereby recommended that people should involve in health policy to
help cater for themselves and family members. They gild also plan and make a
“will” for their survivors. People should prepare for their deaths as they prepare
for any other things in life the government should plan to include death and
dying education school curriculum and it should be embraced by all.
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dying. New York; Thomas Nelson & Sons.
Burnside I. M. (1980). Psychological nursing care of the aged. (2 Ed.), New York:
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Feifel, H. (1959). The meaning of death. New York: McGraw Hill.
Feigenberg, L. (1977). Terminalvard. Stockholm: Liber Larmedal Lund.
Fulton, R. (1964). Death and the self. Journal of Religion and Health. 3,4, 359.
Hinton, J. (1972). Dying. Baltimore: Penguin Books. Ibid, (n.d.) p. 74.
Kalish R. A. (1967). Social distance and the dying. Community A. Health Journal,
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Kubler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying. New York: Macmillan.
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