Telling patients that they have only months to live can be distressing for the healthcare provider, the patient and the patient’s family. But in a recently published article of Palliative and Supportive Care, Jennifer Currin-McCulloch and Barbara Jones suggest that, when framed in the proper context, hope can thrive in conversations about a patient’s terminal prognosis. Patients can set goals for themselves that are shor-term, realistic and attainable, all of which can prompt them to gain a sense of certainty about their illness, control and hope as they prepare for the future.
The Magazine of the Steve Hicks Schools of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin
