Study of the Life Stories of Patients Making a Request for Euthanasia, in the Context of Advanced Cancer.

NCT05884788 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ET22000324
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 7
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study wishes to focus on the life course of patients, beyond the moments of suffering experienced at the time of the request for euthanasia. It is based on the perspective that the patient's account of his or her life course can be a source of information for better understanding and accompanying patients requesting euthanasia.

Conditions

Advanced Cancer

Keywords

Euthanasia; Cancer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Description of the life stories of patients requesting euthanasia to explore which life experiences are brought forward when making this request, in a context of advanced oncological pathology.

  The main objective is to describe the life stories of patients requesting euthanasia in order to discover which life experiences are reasoning in the formulation of this request, in a context of advanced oncological pathology. The investigators carry out a descriptive analysis of the interviews. The interviews will be analyzed as they are conducted, in order to identify themes of interest. The themes will be compared between the different interviews in order to identify possible trends.

  One month

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Calculation of the Bartholomew score

  One month

• Calculation of the distress thermometer's score

  One month

Interventions

free interview, and questionnaires in a second time OTHER

After inclusion in the study, patients will be met for a free interview. The interview will be conducted using an open-ended interview method with the patients to allow free expression of their life history, using open and broad questions to avoid the influence of the interviewer as much as possible. Each interview will be conducted by the same person to allow for better interpersonal reproducibility. After the interview, the patients will be seen again to complete two questionnaires: * An attachment questionnaire: Relationship Scales Questionnaire * A questionnaire on symptoms: Distress thermometer

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

We conduct our study in a French cancer center and a French public hospital. Patients requesting euthanasia will be informed about the possibility of participating in our study. If the patients agree, and if they meet the study criteria, they will be included.

You may qualify if:

• Major patients
• With cancer in the palliative phase, i.e. with an incurable disease according to current knowledge.
• Expressing a request for euthanasia in terms evoking a request for death with the intervention of an outside person.
• Non-opposition to the study after full written information.

You may not qualify if:

• Severe decompensated psychiatric pathology
• Vulnerable persons defined here as pregnant women, parturients and persons under legal protection or unable to express their consent
• Inability to conduct an interview

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre Leon Berard: lead

Study Sites (1)

Centre Léon Bérard

Lyon, 69008, France

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Suicide, Assisted; Neoplasms

Interventions

Surveys and Questionnaires

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Suicide; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 9, 2023
• First Posted: June 1, 2023
• Study Start: June 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: July 31, 2024
• Study Completion: July 31, 2024
• Last Updated: April 16, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Locations

FR (1)