Yujiro Kuroda1, Yumi Iwamitsu2, Mitsunori Miyashita3, Kei Hirai4, Yoshiaki Kanai1, Sachiko Kawakami5, Kimiko Nakano6, Keiichi Nakagawa7. 1. Department of Palliative Medicine,The University of Tokyo Hospital,Tokyo,Japan. 2. Department of Medical Psychology,Kitasato University,Tokyo,Japan. 3. Division of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences,Tohoku University Graduation School of Medicine,Sendai,Miyagi,Japan. 4. Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine,Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine,Osaka,Japan. 5. CancerNet Japan,Department of Public Relations,Tokyo,Japan. 6. Department of Adult Nursing/Palliative Care Nursing,School of Health Sciences and Nursing Sciences,Graduate School of Medicine,University of Tokyo,Tokyo,Japan. 7. Department of Radiology,The University of Tokyo Hospital,Tokyo,Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the views on death among cancer patients in Japan and examines how these views are related to age, sex, and physical condition. We also investigate how these views are related to where patients would like to spend their final days and whether or not they would like to be told how long they have left to live. METHOD: We targeted 450 cancer patients receiving outpatient treatment in the radiology department at the University of Tokyo Hospital. We used the Death Attitudes Inventory (DAI) developed by Hirai to measure attitudes about death. RESULTS: Of the 450 patients approached, we received responses from 310 (69% collection rate). The results of the t test and one-way ANOVA showed that, in terms of "death anxiety/fear," the under-65 group (17.73 ± 6.69) scored significantly higher than the 65-and-over group (15.43 ± 7.69, t = 2.685, df = 280, p < 0.01); the group with KPS scores 70 or above (16.88 ± 7.21) scored higher than the group with KPS scores below 70 (12.73 ± 7.09, t = 2.168, df = 280, p = 0.03); and no significant difference was found for sex, metastasis, or treatment stage. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that, although views on death among cancer patients may differ according to sex, age, and physical condition, taking these factors into account when understanding such views can be useful in predicting where patients may wish to spend their final days.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the views on death among cancerpatients in Japan and examines how these views are related to age, sex, and physical condition. We also investigate how these views are related to where patients would like to spend their final days and whether or not they would like to be told how long they have left to live. METHOD: We targeted 450 cancerpatients receiving outpatient treatment in the radiology department at the University of Tokyo Hospital. We used the Death Attitudes Inventory (DAI) developed by Hirai to measure attitudes about death. RESULTS: Of the 450 patients approached, we received responses from 310 (69% collection rate). The results of the t test and one-way ANOVA showed that, in terms of "death anxiety/fear," the under-65 group (17.73 ± 6.69) scored significantly higher than the 65-and-over group (15.43 ± 7.69, t = 2.685, df = 280, p < 0.01); the group with KPS scores 70 or above (16.88 ± 7.21) scored higher than the group with KPS scores below 70 (12.73 ± 7.09, t = 2.168, df = 280, p = 0.03); and no significant difference was found for sex, metastasis, or treatment stage. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that, although views on death among cancerpatients may differ according to sex, age, and physical condition, taking these factors into account when understanding such views can be useful in predicting where patients may wish to spend their final days.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer patients; Death and dying; Death anxiety; End-of-life care