Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36411442›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2022

Lifelong versus not lifelong death wishes in older adults without severe illness: a cross-sectional survey.

Elke Elzinga, Margot Zomers, Kiki van der Burg, Sisco van Veen, Lizanne Schweren, Ghislaine van Thiel, Els van Wijngaarden

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 42% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.

Elke Elzinga *Research Department, 113 Suicide prevention, Paasheuvelweg 25, 1105 BP, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Margot Zomers *Department of Public Health, Healthcare Innovation & Evaluation and Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands. m.l.zomers@umcutrecht.nl.
Kiki van der BurgDepartment of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Sisco van VeenResearch Department, 113 Suicide prevention, Paasheuvelweg 25, 1105 BP, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Lizanne SchwerenResearch Department, 113 Suicide prevention, Paasheuvelweg 25, 1105 BP, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Ghislaine van ThielDepartment of Public Health, Healthcare Innovation & Evaluation and Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Els van WijngaardenDepartment of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
University Medical Center Utrecht · NLAmsterdam University Medical Centers · NLGGD Amsterdam · NLUniversity Medical Center · USVrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSome older adults with a persistent death wish without being severely ill report having had a death wish their whole lives (lifelong persistent death wish; L-PDW). Differentiating them from older adults without severe illness who developed a death wish later in life (persistent death wish, not lifelong; NL-PDW) can be relevant for the provision of adequate help and support. This study aims to gain insight into the characteristics, experiences, and needs of older adults with a L-PDW versus older adults with a NL-PDW and into the nature of their death wishes.

methodsIn the Netherlands, in April 2019, a cross-sectional survey study was conducted among a large representative sample of 32,477 citizens aged 55 years and older. Respondents with a L-PDW (N = 50) were compared with respondents with a NL-PDW (N = 217) using descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Fisher's exact tests.

resultsRespondents with a L-PDW were relatively younger and less often had (step)children. They less often looked back on a good and satisfying life with many good memories and more often reported trauma. Older adults with a NL-PDW more often reported loss and bereavement. Overall, the groups showed a lot of similarities. Both groups reported a death wish diverse in nature, numerous health problems, and a variety of needs for help and support.

conclusionsSome of the differences we found between the groups might be particularly relevant for the provision of adequate help and support to older adults with a L-PDW (i.e., their past and trauma) and to older adults with a NL-PDW (i.e., their loss and bereavement). The heterogeneity of both groups and the diverse nature of their death wish indicate that careful assessment of the death wish, its background, and underlying needs is required to provide personalized help and support to older adults with a death wish.

Indexed as

Cross-Sectional StudiesAgedHumansNetherlandsSurveys and QuestionnairesDeath wishEnd-of-lifeLifelongLong-lastingOldSuicide ideation

Identifiers

PMID36411442
PMCPMC9680128
OpenAlexW4309495861

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.