Death attitudes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients: A mixed-methods study

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Research shows the significance of death attitudes for the mental health of somatically ill people, but findings that focus on multidimensionality in processing death are scarce. Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) report shortness of breath, pain and anxiety about suffocation and high mental distress. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach from 64 hospitalized COPD patients, we examined how they cope with mortality. We conducted a narrative interview with two questions. Patients completed the Multidimensional Orientation Toward Dying and Death Inventory (MODDI-F). Findings reveal a spectrum of death-related narratives, with most patients reporting at least 3 different attitudes. The sample showed below average scores in the Rejection of One's Own Death and Dying subscale of the MODDI-F. Assessing death attitudes using two simple questions proved highly applicable in this population and may serve as a potential approach to engage patients in discussions about existential matters, as suggested in the literature.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1287-1297
Number of pages11
JournalDeath studies
Volume49
Issue number9
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 11 Sept 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85203505473

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals