Table 3 Relationship between symptom intensity and unbearability in the domains of loss of function, personal aspects, environment, nature and prognosis of disease (n = 60)
| Â | Symptom present %*(n) | Symptom high intensity %* (n) | High intensity and unbearable %*(n) | Percentage unbearable when high intensity % | symptom low intensity %*(n) | Low intensity and unbearable %*(n) | Percentage unbearable when low intensity % | Symptom unbearable %*(n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Domain II: Loss of function | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Impaired routine daily activities | 83 (50) | 58 (35) | 48 (29) | 83 | 25 (15) | 7 (4) | 27 | 55 (33) |
Impaired leisure activities | 82 (49) | 60 (36) | 48 (29) | 81 | 22 (13) | 2 (1) | 8 | 50 (30) |
Help needed with housekeeping | 71 (42) | 54 (32) | 39 (23) | 72 | 17 (10) | 3 (2) | 20 | 42 (25) |
Help needed with self-care | 60 (36) | 27 (16) | 15 (9) | 56 | 33 (20) | 7 (4) | 20 | 22 (13) |
Bedridden | 56 (33) | 32 (19) | 24 (14) | 74 | 24 (14) | 8 (5) | 36 | 32 (19) |
Impaired working capacity | 17 (10) | 17 (10) | 12 (7) | 70 | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 | 12 (7) |
Impaired sexual functioning | 14 (8) | 12 (7) | 5 (3) | 43 | 2 (1) | 0 (0) | 0 | 5 (3) |
Domain III: Personal aspects | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Feeling dependent on others | 80 (48) | 50 (30) | 37 (22) | 73 | 30 (18) | 8 (5) | 28 | 45 (27) |
Not able to do things you consider important | 63 (36) | 26 (15) | 23 (13) | 87 | 37 (21) | 19 (11) | 52 | 42 (24) |
Trouble accepting the present situation | 60 (36) | 30 (18) | 25 (15) | 83 | 30 (18) | 8 (5) | 28 | 33 (20) |
Feeling a nuisance to others | 38 (23) | 5 (3) | 3 (2) | 67 | 33 (20) | 10 (6) | 30 | 13 (8) |
Negative thoughts or worrying | 32 (19) | 12 (7) | 8 (5) | 71 | 20 (12) | 7 (4) | 33 | 15 (9) |
Loss of control over your own life | 30 (18) | 22 (13) | 20 (12) | 92 | 8 (5) | 7 (4) | 80 | 27 (16) |
Feeling not any longer being the same person | 28 (17) | 8 (5) | 8 (5) | 100 | 20 (12) | 2 (1) | 8 | 10 (6) |
Hopelessness | 28 (17) | 7 (4) | 7 (4) | 100 | 21 (13) | 6 (4) | 31 | 13 (8) |
Experienced little happiness with family/friends | 22 (13) | 5 (3) | 0 (0) | 0 | 17 (10) | 8 (5) | 50 | 8 (5) |
Feelings of worthlessness | 22 (13) | 10 (6) | 8 (5) | 83 | 12 (7) | 2 (1) | 14 | 10 (6) |
Feeling lonely (intrapersonal) | 20 (12) | 5 (3) | 3 (2) | 67 | 15 (9) | 7 (4) | 44 | 10 (6) |
Feeling of no longer being important to others | 18 (11) | 5 (3) | 5 (3) | 100 | 13 (8) | 3 (2) | 25 | 8 (5) |
Feeling tired of life | 17 (10) | 5 (3) | 5 (3) | 100 | 12 (7) | 4 (2) | 29 | 9 (5) |
Not satisfied with own self | 12 (7) | 5 (3) | 5 (3) | 100 | 7 (4) | 2 (1) | 25 | 7 (4) |
Feelings of guilt | 12 (7) | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 100 | 10 (6) | 3 (2) | 33 | 5 (3) |
Experienced little success in life | 10 (6) | 2 (1) | 0 (0) | 0 | 8 (5) | 2 (1) | 20 | 2 (1) |
Lived a life with little purpose | 8 (5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 | 8 (5) | 2 (2) | 40 | 3 (2) |
Domain IV: Environment | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Relatives consider your suffering too severe | 33 (19) | 10 (6) | 9 (5) | 83 | 23 (13) | 7 (4) | 31 | 16 (9) |
Practical loneliness (no one present for you) | 15 (9) | 8 (5) | 8 (5) | 100 | 7 (4) | 4 (2) | 50 | 12 (7) |
Insufficient availability of care | 12 (7) | 2 (1) | 0 (0) | 0 | 10 (6) | 8 (5) | 83 | 8 (5) |
Unsatisfactory social contacts | 8 (5) | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 100 | 6 (4) | 1 (1) | 25 | 3 (2) |
Insufficient support (family, relatives) | 5 (3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 | 5 (3) | 2 (1) | 33 | 2 (1) |
Shame | 2 (1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 100 | 2 (1) |
Domain V: Nature and prognosis of disease | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Fear of future suffering | 40 (24) | 15 (9) | 14 (8) | 89 | 25 (15) | 3 (2) | 13 | 17 (10) |
Fear of future failing strength to bear suffering | 25 (15) | 8 (5) | 8 (5) | 100 | 17 (10) | 2 (1) | 10 | 10 (6) |