title: Impact of near-death experiences on dialysis patients: a multicenter collaborative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People who have come close to death may report an unusual experience known as a near-death experience (NDE). This study aims to investigate NDEs and their aftereffects in dialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  710 dialysis patients at 7 centers in Taipei, Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic characteristics, life-threatening experience, depression, and religiosity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NDE and self-perceived changes in attitudes or behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Greyson's NDE scale, Royal Free Questionnaire, 10-Question Survey, Ring's Weighted Core Experience Index, and Beck Depression Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  45 patients had 51 NDEs. Mean NDE score was 11.9 (95% confidence interval, 11.0 to 12.9). Out-of-body experience was found in 51.0% of NDEs. Purported precognitive visions, awareness of being dead, and "tunnel experience" were uncommon (<10%). Compared with the no-NDE group, subjects in the NDE group were more likely to be women and younger at life-threatening events. Both frequency of participation in religious ceremonies and pious religious activity correlated significantly with NDE score in patients with NDEs (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). The NDE group reported being kinder to others (P = 0.04) and more motivated (P = 0.02) after their life-threatening events than the no-NDE group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determining the incidence of NDEs is dependent on self-reporting. Many NDEs occurred before the patient began long-term dialysis therapy. Causality between NDE and aftereffects cannot be inferred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NDE is not uncommon in the dialysis population and is associated with positive aftereffects. Nephrology care providers should be aware of the occurrence and aftereffects of NDEs. The high occurrence of life-threatening events, availability of medical records, and accessibility and cooperativeness of patients make the dialysis population very suitable for NDE research.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Tze-Wah
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Ming-Shiou
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shou-Shang
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Chung-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chia-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chwei-Shiun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chih-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shuei-Liong
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chee-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Pei-Yuan
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kwan-Dun
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tun-Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Wang-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014511:Uremia