Dignity and dying wishes in patients with advanced disease
Changes in value systems, increased life expectancy and a changing understanding of illness are leading to a shift in the way we think about disease. increased presence of a death wish in patients (Ddm). The perception of the deterioration of one's own dignity is assumed to be a determinant of Ddm but it is worth studying association and exploring the phenomenon further.
This is a multi-centre study with a mixed methodology (combination of quantitative and qualitative methodology). data partner -demographic and clinical data will be recorded. Wishes to die (AFIDD), symptom intensity (ESAS-r), perceived dignity (PDI), anxiety and depression (HADS), and demoralisation (DS-II) will be assessed (on 2 successive days). Patient experience will be explored with conversational interviews. Focus groups with professionals will be conducted. Quantitative data will be analysed with logistic regression. Qualitative data will be analysed with hermeneutic phenomenological approach . This innovative study will allow us to understand different typologies of Ddm, facilitating personalised interventions to improve quality of life.
This project has received funding from the Fondo de research en Salud del high school de Salud Carlos III, an entity dependent on the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Ref.: PI18/01703). The duration of the project is 3 years (2019-2021) and the amount of the subsidy is 20,570 €.
a) To study the association between perceived dignity and wishes to die;
b) to learn about the experiences of patients with advanced disease and Ddm.
i) To study whether systematic interviewing is feasible in our environment;
ii) to study whether exploring desires is associated with a change in the intensity in which this situation is expressed;
iii) to analyse factors influencing wishes to die in patients with different characteristics;
iv) to learn about the experiences of professionals in exploring Ddm.
Team
