Associated factors of death acceptance among Thai Buddhist patients with cancer

Death acceptance is essential for cancer patients in palliative care. Accepting their own death enhances readiness for serene passing.

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors associated with death acceptance among cancer patients.

This study employed a cross-sectional, causal relationship design. The participants included 240 Thai Buddhist patients with cancer (N = 240). Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Path analysis using Mplus 7 was utilized to test the hypothesized structural model.

The hypothesized model demonstrated satisfactory goodness of fit to the empirical data. χ² (7, n = 240) = 6.674, p = .464. The observed factors collectively accounted for 27.5% Significant direct associations with death acceptance were identified. Buddhist beliefs about death (β = 0.236, p < .001), Buddhist practices (β = 0.180, p < .001), self-efficacy (β = 0.173, p < .001), and death anxiety (β = -0.188, p < .001). Indirect effects were additionally observed. Buddhist practices mediated the association between Buddhist beliefs about death and death acceptance (β = 0.072). Death anxiety mediated the associations between self-efficacy (β = 0.033) and severity of illness (β = -0.067) with death acceptance. Social support was not significantly associated with death acceptance (β = 0.071, p > .050).

This study highlighted the significant associated factors of death acceptance among cancer patients. The findings can serve as a guideline to promote death acceptance in patients with cancer.