Happiness at the end of life: A qualitative study

Beng, Tan Seng and Ghee, Wong Ka and Hui, Ng Yun and Yin, Ooi Chieh and Kelvin, Khoo Wei Shen and Yiling, See Toh and Huey, Tan Ai and Capelle, David Paul and Zainuddin, Sheriza Izwa and Chin, Loh Ee and Loong, Lam Chee (2022) Happiness at the end of life: A qualitative study. Palliative & Supportive Care, 20 (1). pp. 69-75. ISSN 1478-9515, DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951521000262.

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Abstract

Objective Dying is mostly seen as a dreadful event, never a happy experience. Yet, as palliative care physicians, we have seen so many patients who remained happy despite facing death. Hence, we conducted this qualitative study to explore happiness in palliative care patients at the University of Malaya Medical Centre. Method Twenty terminally ill patients were interviewed with semi-structured questions. The results were thematically analyzed. Results Eight themes were generated: the meaning of happiness, connections, mindset, pleasure, health, faith, wealth, and work. Our results showed that happiness is possible at the end of life. Happiness can coexist with pain and suffering. Social connections were the most important element of happiness at the end of life. Wealth and work were given the least emphasis. From the descriptions of our patients, we recognized a tendency for the degree of importance to shift from the hedonic happiness to eudaimonic happiness as patients experienced a terminal illness. Significance of results To increase the happiness of palliative care patients, it is crucial to assess the meaning of happiness for each patient and the degree of importance for each happiness domain to allow targeted interventions.

Item Type: Article
Funders: None
Uncontrolled Keywords: Happiness; Palliative care; Positive psychology; Psychosocial care; Well-being
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 04 Aug 2022 02:50
Last Modified: 04 Aug 2022 02:50
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/33391

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