Deck 12: Psychological Issues in Advancing and Terminal Illness

Question 1

Identify a true statement about children's understanding of death.

A)Up to age 5,children believe that death occurs because a supernatural being comes to take the person away.
B)At the age of 9 or 10,children typically have some understanding of the processes involved in death.
C)Between ages 5 and 9,most children have a biological understanding of death.
D)Up to age 5,children are frightened by death because they understand that death is final.

Answer 1

At the age of 9 or 10,children typically have some understanding of the processes involved in death.

Question 2

Which of the following factors predicts mortality in the elderly age group?

A)close family relationships
B)reduced terminal illness
C)strong mental health
D)reduced life satisfaction

Answer 2

reduced life satisfaction

Question 3

The major cause of death in the age group 15 to 19 is

A)leukemia.
B)unintentional injury.
C)heart attack.
D)sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Answer 3

unintentional injury.

Question 4

The main cause of premature death in adulthood is sudden death due to

A)accidents.
B)heart attack.
C)acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
D)homicide.

Question 5

_____ is a common cause of death among infants,in which an infant simply stops breathing.

A)Preterm birth
B)Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
C)Yunnan sudden death syndrome
D)Infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS)

Question 6

Epidemiologic studies reveal that sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)is more likely to occur

A)in upper-class urban environments.
B)if the mother smoked during her pregnancy.
C)if the baby is put to sleep on its back.
D)in upper-class rural environments.

Question 7

Children typically do not attain an adult understanding of death until

A)the age of five.
B)age six or seven.
C)age nine or ten.
D)adolescence.

Question 8

Death in elderly people is

A)unlikely to be caused by psychosocial factors.
B)unlikely to be caused by degenerative diseases.
C)likely to be caused by general physical decline.
D)likely to be caused by only one biological competitor.

Question 9

Which of the following is a disadvantage of premature death in adulthood?

A)It causes physical deterioration and results in the loss of mental faculties.
B)It does not allow people to prepare their exit.
C)It is always extremely painful and mutilating.
D)It emotionally torments the family by making it witness the person's worsening condition.

Question 10

Countries with lower infant mortality rates than the United States

A)have higher pregnancy death rates.
B)provide free or low-cost maternal care.
C)provide poor prenatal care for the mother.
D)have flexible birth control policies.

Question 11

_____ is a form of cancer that strikes the bone marrow,producing an excessive number of white blood cells and leading to severe anemia and other complications.

A)Leukemia
B)Adenocarcinoma
C)Angiosarcoma
D)Melanoma

Question 12

Compared with whites,young black males are more likely to die because of

A)accidents.
B)cancer.
C)homicide.
D)heart disease.

Question 13

Walt's parents have explained to him that his grandmother has died.He keeps asking them questions about her death and develops a belief that she has become a ghost.Walt is most likely to be

A)four years old.
B)six years old.
C)ten years old.
D)twelve years old.

Question 14

After infancy,the main cause of death among children younger than age 15 is

A)acute illness.
B)sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
C)accidents.
D)cancer,especially leukemia.

Question 15

In the age group of 15 to 24,the homicide rate among black males is nearly _____ times that of young white males.

A)4.5
B)1.3
C)7.9
D)9.1

Question 16

The death rate among middle-aged adults has declined largely because of a 60 percent drop in

A)stroke.
B)heart disease.
C)lung cancer.
D)homicide.

Question 17

The infant mortality rate in the United States is

A)lower than that in most western European countries.
B)twice as high for white infants as for black infants.
C)the same for white infants and black infants.
D)higher than that in most western European countries.

Question 18

Which of the following is true of terminally ill young adults?

A)Medical staff often find it difficult to work with them.
B)Medical staff find it easier to work with them.
C)The biological competitors for death are more for them.
D)The biological competitors for death are absent for these patients.

Question 19

Poor adjustment for parents of children who have died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)is associated with

A)maternal smoking.
B)self-blame.
C)socioeconomic status.
D)acute illness.

Question 20

In the first year of life,the main causes of death are

A)acute illness and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
B)sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)and congenital abnormalities.
C)accidents and congenital abnormalities.
D)cancer,especially leukemia,and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Question 21

Which of the following statements is true about the Patient Self-Determination Act?

A)It applies only to hospice patients.
B)It gives importance to the patients' wishes.
C)It legalizes the process of passive euthanasia.
D)It supports the terminally ill financially.

Question 22

Ending the life of a person who is suffering from a painful terminal illness is called

A)hospice.
B)palliative care.
C)curative care.
D)euthanasia.

Question 23

Which of the following statements is true about death in men and women?

A)Women die earlier than men because women engage in more risky behavior.
B)Men use automobiles less than women,contributing to their low death rate from accidents.
C)The chief reason why men die earlier than women is suicide.
D)Women die earlier than men only in countries where childbirth technology is poorly developed.

Question 24

Which of the following statements is true about Kübler-Ross's theory of death and dying?

A)It accurately identifies the stages of the dying process.
B)It acknowledges the importance of death-related anxiety.
C)It breaks the taboo surrounding death.
D)It describes the effect of death on survivors.

Question 25

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross refers to the stage of _____ as a time for "anticipatory grief," when patients mourn the prospect of their own deaths.

A)denial
B)anger
C)depression
D)bargaining

Question 26

Which of the following statements is true about long-term denial of impending death?

A)It enables people to accept the implications of an illness.
B)It does not require medical intervention.
C)It has a positive effect on the acceptance and realization of death.
D)It requires psychological intervention.

Question 27

A living will outlines

A)a patient's wishes to undergo euthanasia.
B)a patient's request that extraordinary life-sustaining procedures are not to be used.
C)the conditions under which a patient requests to remain alive.
D)the disposition of the terminally ill patient's belongings after his or her death.

Question 28

As a patient's prognosis worsens,interpersonal communications often deteriorate.The reasons for this breakdown are generally due to

A)the belief that others do not want to talk about death.
B)long-term communication problems in the family.
C)indifference among medical staff members.
D)the loss of optimism among family members.

Question 29

According to critics,Kübler-Ross's theory fails to acknowledge the frequency with which dying patients experience

A)anxiety.
B)enhanced perceptions of control.
C)depression.
D)social support.

Question 30

A depressed terminally ill patient will

A)constantly ask the question "why me?"
B)try to strike a bargain with God by doing a charitable activity.
C)act as if the illness is not severe.
D)come to terms with a lack of control.

Question 31

Which of the following factors contribute to women's lower mortality rates?

A)They participate in less group activities.
B)They possess more biological fitness.
C)They engage in more risky behaviors.
D)They experience less social support.

Question 32

Which of the following is true of the psychological and social issues related to dying?

A)Advancing illness enables patients to present themselves effectively.
B)Communication opens up as the treatment becomes more drastic.
C)Patients gradually begin a process of social withdrawal.
D)Family members cheerfully elicit information from medical staff.

Question 33

According to Kübler-Ross,the dying patient who is coming to terms with his or her lack of control is experiencing

A)denial.
B)depression.
C)bargaining.
D)acceptance.

Question 34

Lazarus (1983)argues that _____ early on in adjustment to life-threatening illness is both normal and useful.

A)anxiety
B)bargaining
C)denial
D)anger

Question 35

According to Turk and Feldman (1992a,1992b),the hospitalized terminally ill patient runs the risk of being _____ by the medical staff.

A)ignored
B)isolated
C)overmedicated
D)undermedicated

Question 36

Which of the following is true of euthanasia and assisted suicide?

A)Euthanasia is a crime punishable by up to 12 years in prison in the United States.
B)Physician-assisted dying is not legally permitted in any of the states in the United States.
C)Acutely ill patients often request for euthanasia or assisted suicide.
D)Receptivity to euthanasia and assisted suicide has increased in the United States.

Question 37

Patients are less likely to turn to alternative treatments when they are satisfied

A)with the interpersonal aspects of their medical care.
B)with the technical aspects of their medical care.
C)that the costs of medical care can be borne by their families.
D)that the medical establishment can do nothing more to improve their condition.

Question 38

Which of the following is an example of curative care?

A)giving a massage for a stiff neck
B)bathing a patient
C)feeding a patient
D)giving a cast for a broken limb

Question 39

Naomi,diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease,knows that she will die soon.She is now deciding on how to divide up her possessions and how to say goodbye to old friends and family members.According to Kübler-Ross's theory,she is in the _____ stage.

A)denial
B)depression
C)acceptance
D)bargaining

Question 40

According to Kübler-Ross,the dying patient who asks "why me?" is experiencing

A)anxiety.
B)bargaining.
C)denial.
D)anger.

Question 41

Therapy with the dying differs from traditional psychotherapy in that it is likely to

A)depend on the energy level of the patient.
B)continue for a long term.
C)avoid adhering to patients' wishes.
D)follow a fixed schedule of appointments.

Question 42

Which of the following statements is true of death education?

A)It is inessential as most of the cultures consider death as a taboo topic.
B)It must be imparted only to the college students.
C)It is necessary as it creates awareness about the kind of care the dying want.
D)It is mandatory as it provides encouragement for self-destructive leanings.

Question 43

Which of the following statements is true about hospices?

A)They are treatment models with limited success rates.
B)They are seldom affiliated with hospitals because of fears of malpractice litigation.
C)They are increasingly being incorporated into traditional treatment.
D)They are providing lesser individualized care than home care.

Question 44

Which of the following is true of terminally ill children?

A)They often know more about their situation than they are given credit for.
B)They are incapable of inferring their health condition from people around them.
C)They express their knowledge,concerns,or questions about the illness directly.
D)They are less stressful to work with.

Question 45

Hospice care is aimed at achieving

A)reduced personal attention.
B)curative care.
C)restricted social support.
D)palliative care.

Question 46

Epidemiologic studies reveal that sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)is less likely to occur in lower-class urban environments.

Question 47

Researchers on death have suggested that cognitive-behavioral therapies like _____ can be effectively employed with dying patients.

A)positive self-talk
B)self-monitoring
C)systematic desensitization
D)intense muscle exercises

Question 48

The major cause of death in youths aged 15 to 19 is unintentional injury.

Question 49

The grief response appears to be more aggravated in

A)women and those who experience expected loss.
B)men and those who experience sudden and unexpected loss.
C)survivors whose family members have experienced a protracted and painful death.
D)young children who experience the death of a sibling.

Question 50

Palliative care involves

A)final attempts to cure the terminally ill patient.
B)life-prolonging interventions such as placing the patient on a respirator.
C)ending the life of a patient who is suffering from a painful terminal illness.
D)custodial work designed to make the patient feel comfortable.

Question 51

According to the research cited in the text,a substantial percentage of terminally ill patients prefer

A)home care.
B)hospice care.
C)traditional hospital care.
D)skilled nursing facilities.

Question 52

Those who study death and dying are called

A)grief assistants.
B)thanatologists.
C)geriatricians.
D)epidemiologists.

Question 53

Salim is a terminally ill patient who is being treated in a hospital.The hospital staff are warm and supportive.They make him feel comfortable by bathing and feeding him every day.In this case,the staff are providing

A)intensive care.
B)acute care.
C)curative care.
D)palliative care.

Question 54

Among women who are depressed in widowhood,_____ appears to be the biggest burden.

A)financial strain
B)loneliness
C)household management
D)instrumental need

Question 55

When young children experience the impending death of a sibling,the best approach is

A)to give no explanation to them about death.
B)to provide extensive detail about the cause of death.
C)to inform them in advance about the impending death.
D)to wait until the death occurs and provide information later.

Question 56

Which of the following statements is true about bereaved adults who ruminate on the death of a loved one?

A)They have high levels of stress.
B)They are less likely to be depressed.
C)They are good at martialing their social support.
D)They are more likely to get good social support.

Question 57

Cultural differences have been found in beliefs about

A)children's understanding of death.
B)death-related ceremonies.
C)working through stages of dying.
D)various causes of death.

Question 58

Which of the following statements is true about terminally ill children?

A)They are unable to understand most information relevant to their medical condition and treatment.
B)They use cues from their treatment and others' responses to infer the nature of their medical condition.
C)They generally believe that they will soon recover and go home.
D)They do not hesitate to express their concerns and questions directly to others.

Question 59

Which of the following statements is true about hospice care?

A)It typically includes painful or invasive therapies.
B)It is more of a philosophy concerning a way of dying than a system of care for the terminally ill.
C)It emphasizes a cure of illness rather than a relief of suffering.
D)It is oriented toward improving a patient's social support system.

Question 60

Which of the following guidelines must be followed by the medical staff who work with the dying?

A)helping the patients to live as long as possible
B)informing the patients of their condition and treatment
C)removing the restrictions on family and friends visits
D)avoiding the involvement of patients in their treatment

Question 61

Terminally ill patients shift from traditional to nontraditional medical care when their health and communication deteriorates.

Question 62

Kübler-Ross's theory has made an important contribution in identifying the universal stages of dying and breaking the taboo surrounding death.

Question 63

Women's alcohol consumption is greater than men's,exposing them to liver damage and alcohol-related accidents,and they consume more drugs than do men.

Question 64

Patients are entirely dependent on medical staff for amelioration of their pain.

Question 65

The Patient Self-Determination Act requires that all health care facilities in the United States have written policies and procedures concerning patients' wishes for life-prolonging therapy.

Question 66

In the denial stage,patients act as if the illness is not severe,and it will shortly go away.

Question 67

Relative to whites,blacks are also less likely to have diabetes,obesity,and hypertension.

Question 68

Explain the medical,social,and psychological factors associated with continuing treatment of a terminal illness.What options are now available to terminally ill patients and their families?

Question 69

There has been a great deal of interest in hospice and home care for the terminally ill.What are the advantages of each for patients and care providers? What are the disadvantages?

Question 70

In terminal care,the staff may burn out from watching patient after patient die,despite their best efforts.

Question 71

Suppose that you are working in a facility that provides care for terminally ill patients and their families.Outline the useful set of goals that will enable you to work with the dying.

Question 72

Describe the psychological and physiological correlates of grief.

Question 73

Men are more likely to participate in hazardous sports and to use firearms recreationally.

Question 74

Describe Kübler-Ross's theory of dying.Evaluate the usefulness of her theory.

Question 75

Although more male than female fetuses are conceived,more males are stillborn or miscarried than are females,and male babies are more likely to die than females.

Question 76

The elderly (over age 65)are generally less prepared to face death than are the young.

Question 77

Physician-assisted dying is legal in all fifty states.