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Death Anxiety in Patients With Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers
Charlotte Walbaum1, Rebecca Philipp2, Carsten Bokemeyer3
1Department of Medical Psychology (C.W., R.P., M.H., J.J., U.K., S.V.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology (C.W., C.B., K.O., S.V.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
|August 25, 2024
Summary
Death anxiety is common in advanced cancer patients (37%) and their family caregivers (75%). Younger patients and females reported higher anxiety, highlighting the need for psychological support.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
- Psychology
Background:
- Death anxiety involves fears of suffering and uncertainty at the end of life.
- Family caregivers also experience significant distress related to patient death and dying.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of death anxiety in advanced cancer patients and their family caregivers.
- To explore associations between death anxiety and sociodemographic/medical factors.
Main Methods:
- Patients with UICC stage IV solid tumors were recruited from oncology and palliative care settings.
- The Death and Dying Distress Scale assessed clinically significant death anxiety.
- Multiple linear regression analyses examined associations with patient characteristics.
Main Results:
- Death anxiety was prevalent in 37% of patients and 75% of family caregivers.
- Common concerns included impact on loved ones and running out of time.
- Younger age, shorter diagnosis duration, and being female predicted higher death anxiety in patients.
- Being female predicted higher death anxiety in family caregivers.
Conclusions:
- Death anxiety is a prevalent and clinically significant issue for advanced cancer patients and their caregivers.
- Findings underscore the necessity for tailored psychological interventions and support systems.
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