Couples Facing Death: II. Unsatisfactory Communication

Abstract

A survey of forty-one terminally ill patients in a continuing care unit and of their spouses assessed the couples' experiences in communicating about their illness. The survey focused on their level of communication with general practitioners, with hospital unit staff, and with spouses, parents, and children. The couples found hospital doctors least successful at communication. Almost all who were dissatisfied would have preferred more information rather than less. (KIE abstract)