Final answer:
The most appropriate statistical test to determine if there is a significant association between terminally ill patients' religious coping and having a living will is the chi-square test of independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most appropriate test to use to check whether there is a significant relationship between whether terminally ill patients have a high level of positive religious coping and whether they have a living will is a chi-square test of independence. This statistical test determines if there is a significant association between two categorical variables. Positive religious coping and the presence of a living will are both categorical variables that can be tabulated into a contingency table, indicating the frequency of patients who use religious coping and have a living will versus those who do not.
Research indicates that individuals with religious or spiritual beliefs may have better coping mechanisms when facing death, suggesting that these beliefs could influence the decision to create a living will. Furthermore, cultural background and knowledge about medical practices like DNR orders reflect personal desires that could be associated with religious coping strategies. Hence, understanding the relationship between religious coping mechanisms and the existence of living wills can be critical for medical practitioners and counsellors when they provide end-of-life care and advice.