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Attitudes Toward Assisted Suicide and Life-Prolonging Measures in Swiss ALS Patients and Their Caregivers
JournalArticle (Originalarbeit in einer wissenschaftlichen Zeitschrift)
 
ID 1533655
Author(s) Stutzki, Ralf; Schneider, Ursula; Reiter-Theil, Stella; Weber, Markus
Author(s) at UniBasel Reiter-Theil, Stella
Stutzki, Ralf
Year 2012
Title Attitudes Toward Assisted Suicide and Life-Prolonging Measures in Swiss ALS Patients and Their Caregivers
Journal Frontiers in psychology
Volume 3
Pages / Article-Number 443
Keywords ALS, motor neuron disease, quality of life, depression, end of life
Abstract

Objectives: In Switzerland, assisted suicide (AS) is legal, provided that the person seeking assistance has decisional capacity and the person assisting is not motivated by reasons of self-interest. However, in this particular setting nothing is known about patients' and their caregivers' attitudes toward AS and life-prolonging measures. Methods: Data was retrieved through validated questionnaires and personal interviews in 33 patients and their caregivers covering the following domains: physical function according to the revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R), demographic data, quality of life, anxiety, depression, social situation, spirituality, burden of disease, life-prolonging, and life-shortening acts. Results: In patients the median time after diagnosis was 9 months (2-90) and the median Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) FRS-R score was 37 (22-48). The majority of patients (94%; n = 31) had no desire to hasten death. Patients' and caregivers' attitudes toward Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) and Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) differed. Significantly more patients than caregivers (21.2 versus 3.1%) stated that they were against NIV (p = 0.049) and against PEG (27.3 versus 3.1%; p = 0.031). Answers regarding tracheotomy were not significantly different (p = 0.139). Caregivers scored significantly higher levels of "suffering" (p = 0.007), "loneliness" (p = 0.006), and "emotional distress" answering the questionnaires (p < 0.001). Suffering (p < 0.026) and loneliness (p < 0.016) were related to the score of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in patients. Conclusion: A liberal legal setting does not necessarily promote the wish for AS. However, the desire to discuss AS is prevalent in ALS patients. There is a higher level of suffering and loneliness on the caregivers' side. A longitudinal study is warranted.

Publisher Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN/ISBN 1664-1078
URL http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00443
edoc-URL http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A6070742
Full Text on edoc No
Digital Object Identifier DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00443
PubMed ID http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23112784
ISI-Number WOS:000208864000156
Document type (ISI) Article
 
   

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