Deseo anticipado de muerte en personas mayores residentes de población española: estudio descriptivo

Objective

To explore the prevalence of Wish to Hasten Death (WTHD) and associated variables in older adults in residential settings.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 27 residents of a nursing home, recording demographic, cognitive, functional, depression and medical history variables. The Desire for Death Rating Scale (DDRS) and an ad hoc questionnaire on various aspects possibly related to WTHD were also administered.

Results

59.3% of the participants exhibited WTHD. No significant relationships were found with variables commonly associated with WTHD in previous research or with the desire for euthanasia. However, there was a relationship between indicators of meaning in life, WTHD, and depression.

Conclusions

The prevalence is significant in the studied sample (more than half) without being associated with depressive symptoms or suicidal desires. On the contrary, they express such a desire alongside a certain satisfaction with their life or life fatigue, which in both cases involves a wish for a natural and complete closure. Expanding the different meanings that older adults without terminal pathologies attribute to the wish to die could help differentiate their experience and improve the most appropriate intervention and support in end-of-life care.