Verbalized desire for death or euthanasia in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care
| Autor: | Ernest Güell, Antonio Pascual, Adelaida Ramos, Tania Zertuche |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2014 |
| Předmět: |
Male
medicine.medical_specialty Palliative care Attitude to Death Population Terminally ill Interviews as Topic Internal medicine Neoplasms Medicine Humans Terminally Ill Prospective Studies education Prospective cohort study General Nursing Depression (differential diagnoses) Aged Aged 80 and over education.field_of_study business.industry Euthanasia Palliative Care Attitude toward death Cancer General Medicine Middle Aged medicine.disease Advanced cancer Psychiatry and Mental health Clinical Psychology Cross-Sectional Studies Family medicine Anxiety Female medicine.symptom business |
| Zdroj: | Palliative & Supportive Care r-IIB SANT PAU. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica del Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau instname |
| ISSN: | 1478-9523 1478-9515 |
| Popis: | Objective:We aimed to address the prevalence of desire-to-die statements (DDSs) among terminally ill cancer patients in an acute palliative care unit. We also intended to compare the underlying differences between those patients who make desire-to-die comments (DDCs) and those who make desire-for-euthanasia comments (EUCs).Method:We conducted a one-year cross-sectional prospective study in all patients receiving palliative care who had made a DDC or EUC. At inclusion, we evaluated symptom intensity, anxiety and depression, and conducted a semistructured interview regarding the reasons for these comments.Results:Of the 701 patients attended to during the study period, 69 (9.8%; IC95% 7.7–12.3) made a DDS: 51 (7.3%) a DDC, and 18 (2.5%) an EUC. Using Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) DDC group showed higher percentage of moderate-severe symptoms (ESAS > 4) for well-being (91 vs. 25%; p = 0.001), depression (67 vs. 25%; p = 0.055), and anxiety (52 vs. 13%; p = 0.060) than EUC group. EUC patients also considered themselves less spiritual (44 vs. 84%; p = 0.034). The single most common reason for a DDS was pain or physical suffering, though most of the reasons given were nonphysical.Significance of results:Almost 10% of the population receiving specific oncological palliative care made a DDC (7.3%) or EUC (2.5%). The worst well-being score was lower in the EUC group. The reasons for both a DDC and EUC were mainly nonphysical. We find that emotional and spiritual issues should be identified and effectively addressed when responding to a DDS in terminally ill cancer patients. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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