Korean J Adult Nurs.  2021 Jun;33(3):212-225. 10.7475/kjan.2021.33.3.212.

The Effect of Hospice Patients' Pain, Anxiety, Depression, Perception of Dignity, and Spiritual Well-Being on their Attitudes toward Dignified Death

• Ahn YS
• Oh PJ

• KMID: 2517237
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2021.33.3.212

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to examine the effect of pain, anxiety, depression, perception dignity, and spiritual well-being on hospice patients’ attitudes toward dignified death. Methods: A total of 130 terminal cancer patients admitted to hospice ․ palliative care institutions in Korea participated in the study. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression using SPSS Statistics 26.0. The assessment tools were the Brief Pain Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perception of Dignity Scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and Attitudes toward Dignified Death Scale.
Results
The mean scores were as follows: 5.25 for pain, 11.98 for anxiety, 14.56 for depression, 22.12 for spiritual well-being, 14.38 for perception of dignity, and 93.12 for attitudes toward dignified death. The results of the hierarchical multiple analysis revealed that spiritual well-being (β=.36, p<.001) was predictive of the attitudes toward dignified death (R² =.13, p<.001).
Conclusion
Spiritual well-being is associated with hospice patients’ attitudes toward dignified death. The results highlight the necessity to develop effective nursing intervention programs that promote spiritual well-being for hospice patients’ attitudes toward dignified death.

Keyword

Hospice; Death; Respect; Pain; Spirituality