Contributing and relieving factors of suffering in palliative care cancer patients: A descriptive study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2022

Abstract

To palliate suffering, understanding the circumstances leading to suffering and its amelioration could be helpful. Our study aimed to explore contributing and relieving factors of suffering in palliative care. Adult palliative care stage III or IV cancer in-patients were recruited from University of Malaya Medical Centre. Participants recorded their overall suffering score from 0 to 10 three times daily, followed by descriptions of their contributing and relieving factors. Factors of suffering were thematically analysed with NVIVO. Descriptive data were analysed with SPSS. 108 patients participated. The most common contributing factor of suffering was health factor (96.3%), followed by healthcare factor (78.7%), psychological factor (63.0%) and community factor (20.4%). The most common relieving factor was health factor (88.9%), followed by psychological factor (78.7%), community factor (75.9%) and healthcare factor (70.4%). Self-reported assessment of suffering offers a rapid approach to detect bothering issues that require immediate attention and further in-depth exploration.

Keywords

Cancer, Suffering, Quality of life, Supportive care, Spiritual care

Publication Title

Omega-Journal of Death and Dying

Divisions

medicinedept,psychological

Funders

None

Volume

85

Issue

3

Publisher

SAGE Publications Inc

Publisher Location

2455 TELLER RD, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91320 USA

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