Health service studies in the terminally ill cancer patient

The number of high quality health service research studies in care of the terminally ill patient is very limited. For some areas of care, such as coordination of care for the dying, the clinical benefit is not clear, but the cost-effectiveness evidence seems compelling enough to provide services. For others, such as the use of advanced directives or hospice care, the ethical and medical rationale is compelling, but the evidence of clinical benefit or better cost-effectiveness is limited.