In a home hospice program for a patient with lung cancer, which action is appropriate to address existential concerns?

In a home hospice program for a patient with lung cancer, which action is appropriate to address existential concerns?

• A. Discuss cancer risk factors and lifestyle modifications.
• B. Teach the patient about the purpose of chemotherapy and radiation.
• C. Encourage the patient to discuss past life events and their meanings.
• D. Accomplish a thorough head-to-toe assessment several times a week.

Answer: (C)

Focusing on meaning, legacy, and personal narrative directly supports existential concerns. Encouraging the patient to discuss past life events and their meanings invites reflection, helps them integrate illness into their life story, and supports a sense of dignity and purpose in the time they have left. This life-review approach can reduce existential distress, improve coping, and strengthen connection with loved ones, which are key goals in home hospice care. It also aligns with therapies used in palliative care, such as reminiscence and dignity-focused interventions, that center on what gives life meaning. While discussing risk factors, treatment plans, or conducting physical assessments are important components of care, they address different domains (biomedical risk, treatment decisions, and physical symptoms) rather than the patient’s search for meaning at end of life.

Focusing on meaning, legacy, and personal narrative directly supports existential concerns. Encouraging the patient to discuss past life events and their meanings invites reflection, helps them integrate illness into their life story, and supports a sense of dignity and purpose in the time they have left. This life-review approach can reduce existential distress, improve coping, and strengthen connection with loved ones, which are key goals in home hospice care. It also aligns with therapies used in palliative care, such as reminiscence and dignity-focused interventions, that center on what gives life meaning. While discussing risk factors, treatment plans, or conducting physical assessments are important components of care, they address different domains (biomedical risk, treatment decisions, and physical symptoms) rather than the patient’s search for meaning at end of life.