Psychological Responses to Terminal Illness and Eventual Death in Koreans With Cancer

Abstract

This qualitative study describes the psychological responses of Korean participants with terminal cancer (stages III-IV) from time of diagnosis to death. Eighteen participants, ages 48 to 73, were interviewed at various phases of dying. Using analytic induction, three categories (nonacceptance, resignation, submission), characteristic patterns of responses over the course of illness and typical responses within categories were generated. Nonaccepters denied the possibility of death while struggling to live; their typical response was resistance. Resigners displayed sorrow, thoughts about their destiny, and growing acceptance of their fate. Their typical response was nonresistance. Submitters were shocked initially, searched for God's will, and prepared for death with hope. Their typical response was hopeful that God would care for them and their families. Participants' ages, physical pain, burden to family, and beliefs played important roles in the patterns of responses.

What is the meaning of palliative care in the Asia‐Pacific region?

“…Another definition of palliative care describes the competent and compassionate care for people with a terminal illness, providing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms; integrating psychological and spiritual care and supporting people to live as actively as possible until death 2,3 . Palliative care includes support of the ill person's family and other carers during the life of the person and continues after their death 4 …”

Management of cancer pain in Korea

“…Patients' psychological responses to eventual death from terminal cancer were described recently by Kang et al (2006) Features of this progressive study are summarized as follows: there were three reactions to eventual death (non-acceptance, resignation, and submission). There were three major patterns in the progressive experience (resistive, non-resistive, and hopeful).…”

“…They also suggested that a better understanding of the psychological responses to eventual death and the progressive experience of terminal cancer patients will lead to a more comprehensive view of the dying process which, in turn, can lead to guidelines for assessment and intervention for reducing suffering from terminal cancer (Kang et al, 2006).…”