Does the impairment of functional life increase the probability of suicide in cancer patients?

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP Vol. 15; no. 21; pp. 9549 - 9553
• Main Authors: Tanriverdi, Derya, Cuhadar, Dondu, Ciftci, Serpil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thailand 01-01-2014
• Subjects: Female; Health Status; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - psychology; Neoplasms - psychology; Probability; Quality of Life; Social Support; Suicide - prevention & control; Suicide - psychology
• ISSN: 1513-7368; 2476-762X
• DOI: 10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.21.9549

Cancer affects patients in many ways including physical, social, emotional, psychological and economic and restricts the functional lives. Psychiatric problems seen among cancer patients may increase the suicide probability and patients perceive suicide as a peaceful death type. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between functional life and suicide probability among cancer patients.
This study was conducted with 105 cancer patients as descriptive. The Functional Living Index_Cancer (FLI- C),"suicide probability scale" (SPS) and personal information form were used as data collecting tools. Data were evaluated by descriptive analysis, and Pearson's correlation.
It was determined that 34.3% of patients thought of suicide. Significant negative correlation was found between functional life and suicide probability (r=-.641, p=0.000), increase being evident in those with poor functional life.
It is recommended that cancer patients should be supported for improving their functional lives with help in coping processes for illness and treatment symptoms. Evaluation of the patient mental status to prevent the suicide among this group is an important role for nurses.