http://www.sociologypress.com/books/interest/awareness_of_dying.htm

This is the first grounded theory book, now pub­lished in four languages. Its resounding suc­cess led to the seminal codification of classic grounded theory method­ology, in "Discovery of Grounded Theory”. At the time of the study, American physi­cians were quite reluctant to disclose impending death to their patients. The book addresses the social psychological problems of dying in hospitals when the patient knows and does not know, with varying degrees between, that he/she is dying. It focuses on the effects of interaction and tactics used by nurses in care of the dying patient within different awareness contests.

CONTENT

Part 1

Introduction

1

The problem of awareness of dying

2

Expectations of death: A problem in social definition

Part II

Types of Awareness Contexts

3

Closed awareness

4

Suspicion awareness: The contest for control

5

The ritual drama of mutual pretence

6

The ambiguities of open awareness

7

Discounting awareness

Part III

Problems of Awareness

8

Direct disclosure of terminality

9

The unaware family

10

The aware family

11

“Nothing more to do”: The problem of no recovery

12

“Nothing more to do”: The problem of comfort

13

Awareness and the nurse’s composure

Part IV

Conclusions

14

The practical use of awareness theory

15

Awareness and the study of social interaction

Appendix

Methods of Collection and Analysis