title: Beyond knowledge and skills: self-competence in working with death, dying, and bereavement.
abstract: This study explored helping professionals' views on death work competencies. A total of 176 helping professionals were invited to state what the necessary competencies in death work are. Content analysis was conducted. Results showed that death work competencies can be categorized into 4 major areas: (a) knowledge competence, (b) practice competence, (c) self-competence, and (d) work-environment competence. Self-competence was the most frequently mentioned by the participants. Self-competence was further categorized into 3 themes: (a) personal resources, (b) existential coping, and (c) emotional coping. Findings reflect helping professionals' emphasis on the role of self and personal preparation in doing death work. Implications on future death education and training for helping professionals were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. chchan@swk.cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Wallace Chi Ho
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Agnes Fong
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Tin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001601:Bereavement; D003376:Counseling / Q000592:standards; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D036301:Qualitative Research