Existential issues in palliative care--interviews with cancer patients.

A minority of terminally ill patients achieve a peaceful death. Many factors, including existential distress, contribute to the emotional disquiet of patients. This study focuses on the reactions of terminally ill cancer patients to questions concerning existential issues within the themes of meaning, relations, autonomy, guilt, dignity, and communication. The results of this study indicate that patients experience a number of problems dealing with existential issues, consider these questions important, and wish to be able to discuss these types of questions with someone.