Understanding the Will to Live in Patients Nearing Death

Authors

Harvey Chochinov
Thomas Hack
Tom Hassard
Linda Kristjanson, Edith Cowan University
S McClement
M Harlos

Document Type

Journal Article

Faculty

Faculty of Computing, Health and Science

School

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Postgraduate Medicine / WA Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care

RAS ID

2810

Comments

Chochinov, H. M., Hack, T., Hassard, T., Kristjanson, L. J., McClement, S., & Harlos, M. (2005). Understanding the will to live in patients nearing death. Psychosomatics, 46(1), 7-10. Available here

Abstract

This study examined concurrent influences on the will to live in 189 patients with end-stage cancer. The authors found significant correlations between the will to live and existential, psychological, social, and, to a lesser degree, physical sources of distress. Existential variables proved to have the most influence, with hopelessness, burden to others, and dignity entering into the final model. Health care providers must learn to appreciate the importance of existential issues and their ability to influence the will to live among patients nearing death.

DOI

10.1176/appi.psy.46.1.7