Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
The diagnosis of cancer in patients instills suffering, helplessness and isolation which demands the patients to hasten the progression of disease and expect death sooner. Data generated has identified multiple factors affect adaptation to trauma and emotional burden in cancer patients. These include social support, spiritual wellbeing, socioeconomic status, self‐esteem, physical distress and disease factors like stage of the disease. The aim is to study and analyze desire to hastened death in cancer patients. Two composite scales have also been developed: the Personal Meaning Index (PMI) derived by summing the Purpose and Coherence dimensions and the Existential Transcendence (ET) derived by summing the scores on the Purpose, Coherence, Choice/Responsibleness, and Death Acceptance and subtracting the scores on Existential Vacuum and Goal seeking. Only 2 statistically significant co relation were found Females performed better in both PMI and existential transcendence scores, Good prognosis is associated with better performance on PMI and existential transcendence scores. Meaning in life was positively related to psychological well‐being (r=0.66) and negatively related to symptom distress (r=‐0.27). The personal meaning index was positively related to psychological well‐being (r=0.70) and negatively related to symptom distress (r=‐0.25). Three aspects of meaning were measured, including global meaning (participant’s beliefs and goals), motivation to find meaning and spiritual meaning. Though cancer presents physical, psychological and existential challenges to the patient, it was hypothesized that the ability to maintain meaning in life would remain. The study supports the concept that cancer is experienced simultaneously as suffering and as a trigger for meaning. Results speak to the clinical complexity of the dynamic experience of suffering and meaning in cancer. We need to better understand the impact of physical suffering and meaning in the lives of this population and to actively work toward the enhancement of social support and connection with others for this group. Optimal palliative and family‐centered care blended with therapies that promote a sense of meaning of life lived appear crucial to ameliorate suffering.
How to cite this article:
Vivek Pathak and Ankit Agarwa. Desire to Hastened Death in Cancer Patients.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2024.10.270.273
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2024.10.270.273