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摘要
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if a gynecologic cancer patient%26apos;s comfort level discussing end-of-life care issues with her caregivers is related to her death anxiety level. %26lt;br%26gt;Materials/Methods: Gynecologic oncology clinic patients were asked to rate their degree of agreeability with 4 statements regarding comfort level discussing end-of-life care issues. Participants also completed the Hoge%26apos;s Intrinsic Religiosity Scale and Templer%26apos;s Death Anxiety Scale. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: Four hundred one surveys were distributed. One hundred twenty-nine patients participated, with a response rate of 32.2%. The median age of the sample was 55 years. Most patients were white (72.9%), married (58.9%), and Christian (85.3%). Most patients had ovarian cancer (40.4%). Of the 74 patients who knew their cancer stage, 59% had been diagnosed with advanced (stage III-IV) disease. Thirty-three percent were currently in remission, and 17% had recurrent disease. Of all patients surveyed, 32.6% were currently receiving treatment. Chemotherapy was the most common treatment (62% of those being treated). Higher level of comfort discussing end-of-life care topics such as do-not-resuscitate orders with family members was significantly associated with decreased death anxiety (P = 0.008 and P = 0.001). There was no significant association between comfort level when patients discussed do-not-resuscitate orders with physicians and patients%26apos; death anxiety (P = 0.14). After controlling for age, race, marital status, education level, current treatment status, and religiosity, linear regression analysis demonstrated that the relationship between a patient%26apos;s increased comfort level when discussing end-of-life care topics with family members and decreased death anxiety remained statistically significant (P = 0.005 and P = 0.001). %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions: Conversations regarding goals of treatment are an important component of caring for cancer patients. Death anxiety may contribute to decreased communication between patients and their family members regarding the patient%26apos;s end-of-life care wishes. Obtaining a better understanding of the role death anxiety plays in end-of-life care discussions may help patients receive the end-of-life care they desire.
- 出版日期2014-10
