Terminally ill cancer patients. Their most important concerns.

Abstract

Patients were receptive to being interviewed and remarked on the relevance and importance of these issues to their own experience. Several patients commented that although their disease was assessed and reassessed throughout their care, the existential, spiritual, familial, and emotional aspects of their illness rarely were a focus of their care. Healthcare professionals can create an atmosphere in which these patients feel comfortable exploring the quality-of-life issues that are most important to them. The systematic assessment of patient concerns about quality of life may complement disease assessment and facilitate referrals to appropriate members of the healthcare team. The wide range of concerns reported suggests that a team approach, including physicians, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and chaplains, is the most effective way to meet the needs of terminally ill patients.