Does Illness Perception Predict Hopelessness and Death Anxiety in Palliative Care Patients?

Abstract

Illness perception is crucial in how patients navigate health challenges. Investigating if it predicts hopelessness and death anxiety is vital, especially in palliative care where these burdens are common. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 129 patients receiving treatment in the palliative care clinics of a university hospital. Patient Identification Form, Illness Perception Questionnaire, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Death Anxiety Scale were used as data collection tools. The findings revealed that patients generally have a negative perception of their illness, with moderate levels of hopelessness and high levels of death anxiety. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between illness perception, death anxiety, and hopelessness. Furthermore, illness perception was found to predict 80.1% of the variation in hopelessness levels and 64.7% of the variation in death anxiety levels among patients. These findings underscore the importance of addressing psychological factors as part of comprehensive palliative care management.