Effective use of role-modeling videos for end-of-life education.

Background: Role-modeling videos portray how to complete a task or behave in a situation. As posited by Social Learning Theory and the Model of Transformational Learning, role-modeling videos used in the Catalyzing Relationships at the End-of-Life Program (CAREol Program©) were developed to engage and transform student learning.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand how role-modeling videos about difficult family relationships at the end of life enhance preparation of nursing and medical students for clinical practice.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative analysis was used to explore the understanding of 156 nursing and medical students' knowledge of end-of-life care expressed through journal reflections after experiencing a role-modeling video.

Results: Four themes emerged from the qualitative descriptive analysis: comfort, communication, time together, and forgiveness/reconciliation.

Conclusion: Through the lens of Social Learning Theory and the Model of Transformational Learning, students learn about the importance of comfort, communication, time together, and forgiveness in family relationships at the end of life.