Study Offers Guide for Better Life at End

What leads to a better quality of life right before death? A new study of advanced cancer patients finds that it helps to die at home, avoid aggressive treatment, and have a close relationship with your doctor. Spiritual factors also made a difference. Prayer, meditation and a visit from a pastor helped people feel more peace at the end. So did relief from worry and anxiety. The study included about 400 people with cancer. All had been told they had less than 6 months to live. They were surveyed an average of 4 months before they died. They were asked about their quality of life. Caregivers were surveyed after the person’s death. They were asked about the person’s quality of life at the end. Dying in a hospital, especially intensive care, was linked with lower quality of life. So was having a feeding tube or aggressive treatment, such as chemotherapy.