Narrative-Based Palliative Care Reduces End-of-Life Stress

Narrative-based palliative care significantly reduced psychological stress and improved quality of life for elderly terminal cancer patients and their family caregivers, according to a randomized controlled study.

Researchers enrolled 50 patients with terminal cancer, assigning half to narrative-based care and half to standard treatment. Groups were comparable at baseline.

Caregivers in the narrative group reported markedly lower stress and higher satisfaction. Patients also experienced better sleep, greater acceptance of death, and enhanced well-being.

The intervention centered on patients’ personal stories and lived experiences, addressing emotional and psychosocial needs often overlooked in conventional end-of-life care.

While promising, findings are preliminary-limited by small sample size and single-center design. Larger multicenter trials are needed to validate results.