title: Cancer patients' preferences for control at the end of life.
abstract: The achievement of a death consistent with personal preferences is an elusive outcome for most people with cancer. Maintaining a sense of control is a core component of a dignified death; however, control might be a Western bioethical notion with questionable relevance to culturally diverse groups. Thus, the purpose of our study was to explore the meaning of control and control preferences in a group of racially and ethnically diverse patients with an advanced cancer diagnosis. Using a hermeneutic, phenomenological approach, we interviewed 20 patients with advanced cancer and uncovered two themes: (a) preferences for everyday control over treatment decisions, family issues, final days of life, and arrangements after death, vs. (b) awareness that cancer and death are controlled by a higher power. Although the sample included non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans, and Hispanics, participants shared common views that are characteristic of American cultural norms regarding the value of autonomy.
authors: University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, Austin, Texas 78701, USA. dvolker@mail.nur.utexas.edu
authors: Deborah L
authors: DL
authors: Volker
authors: Hung-Lan
authors: HL
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*; D013781:Texas; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology