1
|
Joad ASK, Hota A, Agarwal P, Patel K, Patel K, Puri J, Shin S. “I want to live, but …” the desire to live and its physical, psychological, spiritual, and social factors among advanced cancer patients: evidence from the APPROACH study in India. BMC Palliat Care 2022; 21:153. [PMID: 36045352 PMCID: PMC9429624 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-022-01041-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The limited access to palliative care resources along with the social stigma around cancer largely explains the poor quality of life (QoL) of Indian advanced cancer patients. As advanced cancer patients with poor QoL often harbour a desire for hastened death (DHD), it is imperative to understand factors affecting DHD, or the desire to live (DTL) among advanced cancer patients in India. We aim to examine the relationship between DTL and physical, psychological, spiritual, and social factors measuring patients’ QoL alongside their awareness of their late cancer stage.
Methods
We surveyed 200 patients from a tertiary cancer hospital in India to collect their DTL, awareness of cancer stage, demographic characteristics, and standardized measures for patients’ QoL. We used a linear probability regression model to quantify the association between these factors and patients’ DTL among the final sample of 192 patients with no missing information for the variables of interest.
Results
Among the various domains affecting cancer patients’ QoL, we found that the pain severity score (ranging from 0 to 10) and psychological distress score (ranging from 0 to 42) are negatively associated with the DTL. One point increase in each score reduced the DTL by 2.2% (p < 0.05) and 0.7% (p < 0.05), respectively. Our results also showed that patients whose perceived socio-economic status (SES) is poor have a 16% (p < 0.05) lower probability of DTL, compared to those with higher SES (lower middle class, upper middle class, and wealthy). Controlling for caste, religion, gender, age, marital status and years of education, we found psychological distress is statistically higher among patients belonging to this bottom SES.
Conclusions
We found that pain severity, psychological distress and perceived low SES are negatively associated with the desire to live in advanced cancer patients. Future research should focus on developing interventions to improve physical pain and psychological distress, particularly for patients who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
Collapse
|
2
|
Sallnow L, Smith R, Ahmedzai SH, Bhadelia A, Chamberlain C, Cong Y, Doble B, Dullie L, Durie R, Finkelstein EA, Guglani S, Hodson M, Husebø BS, Kellehear A, Kitzinger C, Knaul FM, Murray SA, Neuberger J, O'Mahony S, Rajagopal MR, Russell S, Sase E, Sleeman KE, Solomon S, Taylor R, Tutu van Furth M, Wyatt K. Report of the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death: bringing death back into life. Lancet 2022; 399:837-884. [PMID: 35114146 PMCID: PMC8803389 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)02314-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 94.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Afsan Bhadelia
- Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Yali Cong
- Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Julia Neuberger
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | | | - Sarah Russell
- Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Eriko Sase
- Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Higher Anxiety and Will to Live Are Associated With Poorer Adherence to Cardiac Rehabilitation. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev 2020; 39:381-385. [PMID: 31689265 DOI: 10.1097/hcr.0000000000000438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) session attendance and rates of completion remain suboptimal. Greater distress (ie, depression and anxiety) has been associated with both better and poorer adherence. Will to live (ie, desire, determination and effort to survive) has been associated with survival among cardiac patients and thus may be relevant for CR adherence. It was hypothesized that depression and anxiety would be negatively associated with adherence, and that will to live would moderate these relationships. METHODS Sixty patients (mean age = 56.9 ± 10.8 yr; 38 males) entering outpatient CR completed self-report measures of will to live (Wish to Prolong Life Questionnaire) and distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to predict CR session attendance (%) and program completion (yes/no) from depression and anxiety, as well as the interaction of those variables with will to live. RESULTS Neither depression nor anxiety was associated with CR adherence (Ps > .33). However, there was a significant interaction of will to live with anxiety in predicting attendance (β= -0.31, P = .03, Model R = .19, P = .01), reflecting that anxiety predicted lower attendance only among patients reporting greater will to live. CONCLUSIONS These data help clarify the complex relationship between distress and CR adherence. Findings suggest that higher anxiety is associated with poorer adherence, but only in combination with greater motivation for living. Patients higher in anxiety and will to live may benefit from additional strategies to make actionable behavioral change in the context of CR.
Collapse
|
4
|
Julião M, Antunes B, Nunes B, Sobral MA, Chaves P, Runa D, Bruera E. Measuring Total Suffering and Will to Live in an Advanced Cancer Patient Using a Patient-Centered Outcome Measure: A Follow-Up Case Study. J Palliat Med 2020; 23:733-737. [DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2019.0137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Julião
- Equipa Comunitária de Suporte em Cuidados Paliativos de Sintra, Sintra, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Antunes
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Health Studies and Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Baltazar Nunes
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde Pública, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Ana Sobral
- Equipa Comunitária de Suporte em Cuidados Paliativos de Sintra, Sintra, Portugal
| | - Petra Chaves
- Equipa Comunitária de Suporte em Cuidados Paliativos de Sintra, Sintra, Portugal
| | - Daniela Runa
- Equipa Comunitária de Suporte em Cuidados Paliativos de Sintra, Sintra, Portugal
| | - Eduardo Bruera
- Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kremeike K, Frerich G, Romotzky V, Boström K, Dojan T, Galushko M, Shah-Hosseini K, Jünger S, Rodin G, Pfaff H, Perrar KM, Voltz R. The desire to die in palliative care: a sequential mixed methods study to develop a semi-structured clinical approach. BMC Palliat Care 2020; 19:49. [PMID: 32299415 PMCID: PMC7164236 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-020-00548-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although desire to die of varying intensity and permanence is frequent in patients receiving palliative care, uncertainty exists concerning appropriate therapeutic responses to it. To support health professionals in dealing with patients´ potential desire to die, a training program and a semi-structured clinical approach was developed. This study aimed for a revision of and consensus building on the clinical approach to support proactively addressing desire to die and routine exploration of death and dying distress. METHODS Within a sequential mixed methods design, we invited 16 palliative patients to participate in semi-structured interviews and 377 (inter-)national experts to attend a two-round Delphi process. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and an agreement consensus for the Delphi was determined according to predefined criteria. RESULTS 11 (69%) patients from different settings participated in face-to-face interviews. As key issues for conversations on desire to die they pointed out the relationship between professionals and patients, the setting and support from external experts, if required. A set of 149 (40%) experts (132/89% from Germany, 17/11% from 9 other countries) evaluated ten domains of the semi-structured clinical approach. There was immediate consensus on nine domains concerning conversation design, suggestions for (self-)reflection, and further recommended action. The one domain in which consensus was not achieved until the second round was "proactively addressing desire to die". CONCLUSIONS We have provided the first semi-structured clinical approach to identify and address desire to die and to respond therapeutically - based on evidence, patients' views and consensus among professional experts. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00012988; registration date: 27.9.2017) and in the Health Services Research Database (VfD_DEDIPOM_17_003889; registration date: 14.9.2017).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Kremeike
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Gerrit Frerich
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Vanessa Romotzky
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kathleen Boström
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Dojan
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Maren Galushko
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kija Shah-Hosseini
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Saskia Jünger
- Cologne Center for Ethics, Rights, Economics, and Social Sciences of Health (ceres), University of Cologne and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gary Rodin
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Holger Pfaff
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Klaus Maria Perrar
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Raymond Voltz
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kremeike K, Galushko M, Frerich G, Romotzky V, Hamacher S, Rodin G, Pfaff H, Voltz R. The DEsire to DIe in Palliative care: Optimization of Management (DEDIPOM) - a study protocol. BMC Palliat Care 2018; 17:30. [PMID: 29458344 PMCID: PMC5819295 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-018-0279-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A desire to die (DD) is frequent in palliative care (PC). However, uncertainty remains as to the appropriate therapeutic response. (Proactive) discussion of DD is not usually part of standard care. To support health practitioners' (HPs) reactions to a patient's DD, a training program has been developed, piloted and evaluated. Within this framework, a first draft of a semi-structured clinical interview schedule with prompts (CISP) has been developed, including recommendations for action to support HPs' self-confidence. The aim of this study is the further development of the CISP to support routine exploration of death and dying distress and proactive addressing of a DD. METHODS This observatory, prospective health services study comprises a three step study design: 1. Revision of the CISP and consensus finding based on semi-structured interviews with patients and a Delphi process with (inter-)national experts, patient representatives and relatives; 2. Increasing confidence in HPs through a 2 day-training program using the consented CISP; 3. A formative quantitative evaluation of conversations between HPs and patients (300 palliative patients at three time points) and a qualitative evaluation based on interview triads of patients, relatives and HPs. The evaluation of conversations will include patient-oriented outcomes, including perceived relationships with HPs and death and dying distress. We will also consider aspects of social inequality and gender. DISCUSSION The intervention can provide a framework for open discussion of DD and a basis for enhancing a trustful HP-patient relationship in which such difficult topics can be addressed. The benefits of this study will include (a) the creation of the first consented semi-structured approach to identify and address DD and to respond therapeutically, (b) the multi-professional enhancement of confidence in dealing with patients' DD and an intervention that can flexibly be integrated into other training and education programs and (c) an evaluation of effects of this intervention on patients, relatives and HPs, with attention to social inequality and gender. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register ( DRKS00012988 ; registration date: 27.9.2017) and in the Health Services Research Database ( VfD_DEDIPOM_17_003889 ; registration date: 14.9.2017).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Kremeike
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Maren Galushko
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gerrit Frerich
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Vanessa Romotzky
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Stefanie Hamacher
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gary Rodin
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Holger Pfaff
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), The University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Raymond Voltz
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Cologne / Bonn (CIO), Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Center for Health Services Research Cologne (ZVFK), Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Clinical Trials Center Cologne (ZKS), Cologne, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kessler TA. Journey of a Woman With Terminal Cervical Cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2016; 20:340-2. [PMID: 27206304 DOI: 10.1188/16.cjon.340-342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
When a cervical cancer diagnosis is made during a terminal stage, a woman is faced with many challenges. Although a terminal illness has many negative effects, such as physical pain, scarring, fear, and sexual dysfunction, women may experience a positive impact on their life, such as improved well-being and a greater appreciation of daily life. The individual experience can lead to personal revelations. Sometimes, the diagnosis can even be seen as a blessing. Understanding a personal experience in a real-life context of the terminal stages of disease is important. This story shares the day-to-day journey of a woman living with a terminal illness of cervical cancer.
Collapse
|
8
|
Voltz R, Perrar KM. [How to react to a wish towards hastening death in palliative care?]. MMW Fortschr Med 2015; 157:60-62. [PMID: 26015212 DOI: 10.1007/s15006-015-2921-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Voltz
- Zentrum für Palliativmedizin, Uniklinik Köln, D-50924, Köln, Deutschland,
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
|
10
|
Wiener L, Weaver MS, Bell CJ, Sansom-Daly UM. Threading the cloak: palliative care education for care providers of adolescents and young adults with cancer. CLINICAL ONCOLOGY IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS 2015; 5:1-18. [PMID: 25750863 PMCID: PMC4350148 DOI: 10.2147/coaya.s49176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Medical providers are trained to investigate, diagnose, and treat cancer. Their primary goal is to maximize the chances of curing the patient, with less training provided on palliative care concepts and the unique developmental needs inherent in this population. Early, systematic integration of palliative care into standard oncology practice represents a valuable, imperative approach to improving the overall cancer experience for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The importance of competent, confident, and compassionate providers for AYAs warrants the development of effective educational strategies for teaching AYA palliative care. Just as palliative care should be integrated early in the disease trajectory of AYA patients, palliative care training should be integrated early in professional development of trainees. As the AYA age spectrum represents sequential transitions through developmental stages, trainees experience changes in their learning needs during their progression through sequential phases of training. This article reviews unique epidemiologic, developmental, and psychosocial factors that make the provision of palliative care especially challenging in AYAs. A conceptual framework is provided for AYA palliative care education. Critical instructional strategies including experiential learning, group didactic opportunity, shared learning among care disciplines, bereaved family members as educators, and online learning are reviewed. Educational issues for provider training are addressed from the perspective of the trainer, trainee, and AYA. Goals and objectives for an AYA palliative care cancer rotation are presented. Guidance is also provided on ways to support an AYA's quality of life as end of life nears.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lori Wiener
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH,
Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Meaghann Shaw Weaver
- Department of Oncology, Children's National Health System,
Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research
Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Cynthia J Bell
- College of Nursing, Wayne State University and Hospice of
Michigan Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ursula M Sansom-Daly
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney
Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Women's and Children's
Health, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW,
Australia
- Sydney Youth Cancer Service, Sydney Children's/Prince of
Wales Hospitals, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Portnoy A, Rana P, Zimmermann C, Rodin G. The Use of Palliative Sedation to Treat Existential Suffering: A Reconsideration. PHILOSOPHY AND MEDICINE 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-9106-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
12
|
Ruijs CD, van der Wal G, Kerkhof AJ, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD. Unbearable suffering and requests for euthanasia prospectively studied in end-of-life cancer patients in primary care. BMC Palliat Care 2014; 13:62. [PMID: 25587240 PMCID: PMC4292985 DOI: 10.1186/1472-684x-13-62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background An international discussion about whether or not to legally permit euthanasia and (or) physician assisted suicide (EAS) is ongoing. Unbearable suffering in patients may result in a request for EAS. In the Netherlands EAS is legally permitted, and unbearable suffering is one of the central compulsory criteria. The majority of EAS is performed in cancer patients in the primary care practice. In around one in every seven end-of-life cancer patients dying in the primary care setting EAS is performed. The prevalence of unbearable symptoms and overall unbearable suffering in relationship to explicit requests for EAS was studied in a cohort of end-of-life cancer patients in primary care. Methods A prospective study in primary care cancer patients estimated to die within six months was performed. Every two months suffering was assessed with the State-of-Suffering V (SOS-V). The SOS-V is a comprehensive instrument for quantitative and qualitative assessment of unbearable suffering related to 69 physical, psychological and social symptoms in five domains. Results Out of 148 patients who were asked to participate 76 (51%) entered the study. The studied population were 64 patients who were followed up until death; 27% explicitly requested EAS, which was performed in 8% of the patients. The final interview per patient was analyzed; in four patients the SOS-V was missing. Unbearable symptoms were present in 94% of patients with an explicit request for EAS and in 87% of patients without an explicit request. No differences were found in the prevalence of unbearable suffering for physical, psychological, social and existential symptoms, nor for overall unbearable suffering, between patients who did or who did not explicitly request EAS. Conclusions In a population of end-of-life cancer patients cared for in primary care no differences in unbearable suffering were found between patients with and without explicit requests for EAS. The study raises the question whether unbearable suffering is the dominant motive to request for EAS. Most patients suffered from unbearable symptoms, indicating that the compulsory criterion of unbearable suffering may be met a priori in most end-of-life cancer patients dying at home, whether they request EAS or not.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cees Dm Ruijs
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center, EMGO+ Institute, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands ; Primary Care Center De Greev, Grevelingenstraat 10, 3522 PR Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gerrit van der Wal
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center, EMGO+ Institute, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ad Jfm Kerkhof
- Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University, EMGO+ Institute, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center, EMGO+ Institute, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Johnson RH. TOUCH of the healer: Defining core behaviors of oncologists that affect the mental health of patients with cancer. Cancer 2014; 120:2233-6. [DOI: 10.1002/cncr.28736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca H. Johnson
- Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program, Seattle Children's Hospital; University of Washington; Seattle Washington
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Karppinen H, Laakkonen ML, Strandberg TE, Tilvis RS, Pitkälä KH. Will-to-live and survival in a 10-year follow-up among older people. Age Ageing 2012; 41:789-94. [PMID: 22762904 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afs082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND there is little research how older people's will-to-live predicts their survival. OBJECTIVE to investigate how many years home-dwelling older people wish to live and how this will-to-live predicts their survival. METHODS as a part of the Drugs and Evidence-Based Medicine in the Elderly (DEBATE) study, 400 home-dwelling individuals aged 75-90 were recruited into a cardiovascular prevention trial in Helsinki. In 2000, a questionnaire about the wishes of their remaining life was completed by 283 participants. Participants were inquired how many years they would still wish to live, and divided into three groups according to their response: group 1: wishes to live <5 years, group 2: 5-10 years, group 3: >10 years. Mortality was confirmed from central registers during a 10-year follow-up. The adjusted Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine how will-to-live predicted survival. RESULTS in group 1 wishing to live less than 5 years, the mean age and the Charlson comorbidity index were the highest, and subjective health the poorest. There were no differences between the groups in cognitive functioning or feeling depressed. Mortality was the highest (68.0%) among those wishing to live <5 years compared with those wishing to live 5-10 years (45.6%) or over 10 years (33.3%) (P < 0.001). With group 1 as referent (HR: 1.0) in the Cox proportional hazard model adjusting for age, gender, Charlson comorbidity index and depressive feelings, HR for mortality was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.45-0.95) (P = 0.027) and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.26-0.86) (P = 0.011) in groups 2 and 3, respectively. CONCLUSION the will-to-live was a strong predictor for survival among older people irrespective of age, gender and comorbidities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helena Karppinen
- Unit of General Practice, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Karlsson M, Milberg A, Strang P. Suffering and euthanasia: a qualitative study of dying cancer patients' perspectives. Support Care Cancer 2011; 20:1065-71. [PMID: 21573739 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-011-1186-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2011] [Accepted: 05/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although intolerable suffering is a core concept used to justify euthanasia, little is known about dying cancer patients' own interpretations and conclusions of suffering in relation to euthanasia. METHODS Sixty-six patients with cancer in a palliative phase were selected through maximum-variation sampling, and in-depth interviews were conducted on suffering and euthanasia. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis with no predetermined categories. RESULTS The analysis demonstrated patients' different perspectives on suffering in connection to their attitude to euthanasia. Those advocating euthanasia, though not for themselves at the time of the study, did so due to (1) perceptions of suffering as meaningless, (2) anticipatory fears of losses and multi-dimensional suffering, or (3) doubts over the possibility of receiving help to alleviate suffering. Those opposing euthanasia did so due to (1) perceptions of life, despite suffering, as being meaningful, (2) trust in bodily or psychological adaptation to reduce suffering, a phenomenon personally experienced by informants, and (3) by placing trust in the provision of help and support by healthcare services to reduce future suffering. CONCLUSIONS Dying cancer patients draw varying conclusions from suffering: suffering can, but does not necessarily, lead to advocations of euthanasia. Patients experiencing meaning and trust, and who find strategies to handle suffering, oppose euthanasia. In contrast, patients with anticipatory fears of multi-dimensional meaningless suffering and with lack of belief in the continuing availability of help, advocate euthanasia. This indicates a need for healthcare staff to address issues of trust, meaning, and anticipatory fears.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marit Karlsson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|