Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2002):

Terminally ill cancer patients' wish to hasten death.

Full Abstract

This exploratory study investigated factors associated with the wish to hasten death among a sample of terminally ill cancer patients. Semi-structured interviews conducted on a total of 72 hospice and home palliative care patients were subjected to qualitative analysis using QSR-NUDIST. The main themes to emerge suggested that patients with a high wish to hasten death had greater concerns with physical symptoms and psychological suffering, perceived themselves to be more of a burden to others, and experienced higher levels of demoralization, while also reporting less confidence in symptom control, fewer social supports, less satisfaction with life experiences and fewer religious beliefs when compared with patients who had a moderate or no wish to hasten death. The implications of these findings will be discussed.

Author information

Author/s: Kelly, B (B); Burnett, P (P); Pelusi, D (D); Badger, S (S); Varghese, F (F); Robertson, M (M);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Australia. brian(-atsign-)psychiatry.uq.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Palliative medicine (Palliat Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jul; vol 16 (issue 4) : pp 339-45

Dates: Created 2002/07/22; Completed 2002/07/23; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12132547, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Attitude to Death Communication Emotions Euthanasia - psychology Female Humans Male

Middle Aged Neoplasms - psychology Patient Satisfaction Perception Physician-Patient Relations Queensland Right to Die Social Support Stress, Psychological - psychology Terminally Ill - psychology

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