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Table 3 Average scores for presence (a) and unbearability (b) of the individual SOS-V aspect in the first interviews (n = 64)*

From: Unbearability of suffering at the end of life: the development of a new measuring device, the SOS-V

Aspect

a.

b.

Aspect

a.

b.

Domain I

  

Domain II

  

1 General discomfort

2.4

2.4

38 Impaired working capacity

1.7

1.6

2 Tired

3.2

2.7

39 Impaired in daily activities

3.2

3.2

3 Weakened

3.1

2.9

40 Impaired leisure activities

3.2

2.8

4 Not sleeping well

1.9

1.8

41 Needing help housekeeping

3.4

2.7

5 Pain

2.3

2.2

42 Needing help self-care

1.9

1.6

6 Loss of appetite

2.3

2.0

43 Bedridden

2.1

2.0

7 Thirst

2.1

1.5

44 Restricted sexuality

2.0

1.5

9 Smelling unpleasant

1.6

1.5

Domain III

  

10 Impaired mental clarity

1.9

1.9

45 Not satisfied with own self

1.3

1.2

11 Concentration loss

2.1

1.9

46 Lived life with little purpose

1.3

1.1

12 Memory loss

2.0

1.7

47 Little success in life

1.2

1.2

13 Feeling tense

1.9

1.7

48 Little happiness with family

1.4

1.4

14 Feeling depressed

1.5

1.4

49 Trouble accepting situation

2.2

2.3

15 Feeling anxious

1.4

1.3

50 Negative thoughts or worrying

1.7

1.7

16 Shortness of breath

2.1

2.7

51 Feelings of guilt

1.2

1.2

17 Coughing

1.5

1.3

52 Feelings of worthlessness

1.4

1.4

18 Swallowing [..] food

1.6

1.6

53 Feelings of loneliness

1.5

1.3

19 Swallowing [..] fluid

1.3

1.4

54 Feelings of hopelessness

1.5

1.5

20 Nausea

1.5

1.6

55 Feeling no longer same person

1.5

1.4

21 Vomiting

1.4

1.6

56 Feeling tired of life

1.2

1.3

22 Constipation

1.6

1.5

57 Feeling dependent of others

2.8

2.6

23 Diarrhoea

1.2

1.2

58 Feeling loss of control life

1.6

1.7

24 Intestinal cramps

1.4

1.4

59 Feeling being a nuisance

1.7

1.7

25 Incontinence of urine

1.3

1.3

60 Feeling not important to others

1.3

1.3

26 Incontinence of faeces

1.1

1.1

61 Doing Important things not possible

2.6

2.6

27 Hiccups

1.3

1.4

Domain IV

  

28 Pressure ulcers

1.1

1.1

62 Not supported sufficiently

1.1

1.1

29 Itch

1.4

1.3

63 Lonely/people not there for you

1.4

1.4

30 Skin metastasis

1.1

1.0

64 Feelings of shame

1.1

1.1

31 Paralyzed limbs

1.1

1.1

65 Close ones consider suffering severe

1.6

1.6

32 Impaired coordination

2.0

2.0

66 Unsatisfactory contact close ones

1.2

1.2

33 Incomprehensible speech

1.6

1.7

67 Insufficient availability of care

1.4

1.4

34 Impaired comprehension speech

1.1

1.1

Domain V

  

35 Dizziness

1.5

1.5

68 Fear of future suffering

1.9

2.0

36 Impaired sight

1.7

1.6

69 No longer having strength to suffer

1.8

1.8

37 Impaired hearing

1.8

1.7

   
  1. * Average of score between 1 (not at all) and 5 (very seriously); if an aspect was not at all present (a), it was scored also as not at all unbearable (b). Missing observations between 6 and 9