Table 4.
Symptom unbearability in the domains of loss of function, personal aspects, environment, nature and prognosis of disease in patients with and without an explicit request for euthanasia (n = 60; for patients with administered SOS-V)*
| Symptom present | Symptom unbearable | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAS request | No EAS request | p-value** | All patients | ||
| %(n) | (n = 17) %(n) |
(n = 43) %(n) |
(n = 60) %(n) |
||
| Domain II: Loss of function | |||||
| Impaired routine daily activities | 83 (50) | 53 (9) | 56 (24) | 0.995 | 55 (33) |
| Impaired leisure activities | 82 (49) | 65 (11) | 44 (19) | 0.252 | 50 (30) |
| Help needed with housekeeping | 71 (42) | 65 (11) | 33 (14) | 0.040** | 42 (25) |
| Bedridden | 56 (33) | 29 (5) | 33 (14) | 0.996 | 32 (19) |
| Help needed with self-care | 60 (36) | 35 (6) | 16 (7) | 0,192 | 22 (13) |
| Impaired working capacity | 17 (10) | 6 (1) | 14 (6) | 0.661 | 12 (7) |
| Impaired sexuality | 14 (8) | 0 (0) | 7 (3) | 0.551 | 5 (3) |
| Domain III: Personal aspects | |||||
| Feeling dependent on others | 80 (48) | 47 (8) | 44 (19) | 0.995 | 45 (27) |
| Not able to do things you consider important | 63 (36) | 35 (6) | 42 (18) | 0.773 | 42 (24) |
| Trouble accepting the present situation | 60 (36) | 41 (7) | 30 (13) | 0.545 | 33 (20) |
| Loss of control over your own life | 30 (18) | 18 (3) | 30 (13) | 0.518 | 27 (16) |
| Negative thoughts or worrying | 32 (19) | 6 (1) | 19 (8) | 0.423 | 15 (9) |
| Feeling a nuisance to others | 38 (23) | 24 (4) | 9 (4) | 0.206 | 13 (8) |
| Hopelessness | 28 (17) | 24 (4) | 9 (4) | 0.206 | 13 (8) |
| Feeling not any longer being the same person | 28 (17) | 0 (0) | 14 (6) | 0.170 | 10 (6) |
| Feelings of worthlessness | 22 (13) | 12 (2) | 9 (4) | 0.995 | 10 (6) |
| Feeling lonely (intrapersonal) | 20 (12) | 6 (1) | 16 (7) | 0.420 | 10 (6) |
| Experienced little happiness with family/friends | 22 (13) | 12 (2) | 7 (3) | 0.616 | 8 (5) |
| Feeling of no longer being important to others | 18 (11) | 12 (2) | 7 (3) | 0.616 | 8 (5) |
| Feeling tired of life | 17 (10) | 12 (2) | 7 (3) | 0.996 | 9 (5) |
| Not satisfied with own self | 12 (7) | 6 (1) | 7 (3) | 0.995 | 7 (4) |
| Feelings of guilt | 12 (7) | 6 (1) | 5 (2) | 0.490 | 5 (3) |
| Lived a life with little purpose | 8 (5) | 6 (1) | 2 (1) | 0.997 | 3 (2) |
| Experienced little success in life | 10 (6) | 0 (0) | 2 (1) | 0.236 | 2 (1) |
| Domain IV: Environment | |||||
| Relatives consider your suffering too severe | 33 (19) | 24 (4) | 12 (5) | 0..995 | 16 (9) |
| Practical loneliness (isolation, no one present for you) | 15 (9) | 12 (2) | 12 (5) | 0.995 | 12 (7) |
| Insufficient availability of care | 12 (7) | 12 (2) | 7 (3) | 0.616 | 8 (5) |
| Unsatisfactory social contacts | 8 (5) | 6 (1) | 2 (1) | 0.491 | 3 (2) |
| Insufficient support (family, relatives) | 5 (3) | 0 (0) | 2 (1) | 0.490 | 2 (1) |
| Shame | 2 (1) | 0 (0) | 2 (1) | 0.490 | 2 (1) |
| Domain V: Nature and prognosis of disease | |||||
| Fear of future suffering | 40 (24) | 24 (4) | 14 (6) | 0.453 | 17 (10) |
| Fear of future failing strength to bear suffering | 25 (15) | 6 (1) | 12 (5) | 0.662 | 10 (6) |
The SOS-V was missing in four patients.
Scoring: 1-not at all; 2-slightly; 3-moderately; 4-seriously; 5-very seriously, hardly could be worse.
Suffering bearable: scores 1–3 ; Suffering unbearable: scores 4,5.
Rounded percentages and absolute numbers.
*0 to 3 missing observations per symptom. Impaired working capacity applied for 10 persons (with work).
**Fisher’s exact tests.