The relationships among distressing symptoms, purpose in life, social well-being, and personal dimensions in terminally ill adults receiving hospice care

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between symptom distress, purpose in life, social well-being, and personal dimension in tem1inally ill patients receiving hospice care based on Roy's Adaptation Model. The research design was a secondary data analysis of Quality of Life in patients receiving hospice care (McGaffic & Mayer, 1996). The findings showed that there were significant relationships among pain, purpose m life, social well-being, certain personal dimensions (p< .05). There is a negative relationship between pain, a single distressing symptom and social well-being (r= - .727, p< .05). A significantly negative relationship between pain and financial security (r= . 754, p< .05) was determined. The positive relationship between purpose in life and social well-being was also found (r= .839, p< .01). Finally, the positive relationship was validated between purpose in life and age (r= . 778, p< .05). The implications of these finding provide evidence that symptom distress, purpose in life, social well-being, and personal dimensions related to each other which support the view that current nursing interventions should integrate the physical, psychosocial and spiritual domains to promote Quality of Life in patients at the end of life.