Meaning in life as a mediator between physical impairment and the wish to hasten death in patients with advanced cancer
Author
Guerrero Torrelles, Mariona
Tomás Sábado, Joaquín
Marimon Viadiu, Frederic
Porta Sales, Josep
Balaguer Santamaría, Albert
Publication date
2017-12ISSN
0885-3924
Abstract
Context. Meaning in life (MiL) is a key factor for ensuring spiritual well-being and quality of life among patients with life threatening illnesses. However, the role of MiL in relation to the wish to hasten death (WTHD) and its interaction with other physical and psychological factors in patients with advanced cancer has not yet been studied.
Objective. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the WTHD and MiL and to propose a theoretical model of functional relationships among WTHD, performance status, depression, and MiL.
Methods. This is a cross-sectional study of 101 patients in a palliative care unit, who were assessed in the context of a clinical interview. Outcome measures included performance status, depression, MiL, and the WTHD. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the functional relationships between these factors.
Results. The WTHD correlated significantly (P < 0.01) with MiL (r = 0.60), performance status (r = 0.548), and depression (r = 0.397). The structural equation modeling analysis showed that although there was no significant direct effect between performance status and the WTHD, there was a significant total effect because of the mediation of depression and MiL. The latter played the most significant role, accounting for 76.5% of the mediation.
Conclusion. These results support the proposed model and provide evidence of a mediator effect of MiL and depression on the relationship between physical impairment and the WTHD in advanced patients. Our findings suggest that interventions to enhance MiL could help to address and/or prevent the emergence of a WTHD in this population.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Accepted version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
61 - Medical sciences
Keywords
Qualitat de vida
Quality of life
Calidad de vida
Tractament pal·liatiu
Palliative treatment
Cuidados paliativos
Eutanàsia
Euthanasia
Eutanasia
Pages
19
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd.
Collection
54;6
Is part of
Journal of pain and symptom management
Citation
Guerrero-Torrelles, Mariona; Monforte-Royo, Cristina; Tomas-Sabado, Joaquin; Marimon Viadiu, Frederic; Porta-Sales, Josep; Balaguer, Albert. «Meaning in life as a mediator between physical impairment and the wish to hasten death in patients with advanced cancer». Journal of pain and symptom management, 2017, vol. 54, núm. 6, p. 826-834. Disponible en: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885392417303494?via%3Dihub>. Fecha de acceso: 08 jul. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.04.018
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Ciències de la Salut [725]
Rights
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