Near-Suicide Phenomenon: An Investigation into the Psychology of Patients with Serious Illnesses Withdrawing from Treatment

This study investigates the "near-suicide" phenomenon, where patients with serious illnesses choose to forgo treatment due to financial burdens. The authors analyzed data from 1042 Vietnamese patients using the Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) analytics and found that the severity of the illness and the perceived financial burden significantly influenced the patients' decisions. The findings suggest that patients facing severe illnesses and financial hardship are more likely to opt out of treatment, prioritizing their families' well-being over their own survival. This research underscores the impact of socioeconomic factors on healthcare decisions and advocates for policy interventions to mitigate financial burdens and promote social equality in healthcare systems.

Quan-Hoang Vuong, Tam-Tri Le, Ruining Jin, Quy Van Khuc, Hong-Son Nguyen, Thu-Trang Vuong, Minh-Hoang Nguyen