to the time between the interview and the patient's death.

This span of time also varied considerably. That is, in

spite of the clinical estimation of each person's prognosis,

the initial interviews actually took place at various

distances in time from their deaths. Table 29 summarizes

information related to this variable.


Table 29

Closeness to Death at the Time of the Interview



 Cancer site


 Lung a Breast b Rectocolon

Closeness to death
 M 2.17 6.5 3.33
 SD 1.99 7 3.88
 Range 5 22 10


a n = 12. b n = 12. n = 6.

Hypothesis testing

 Three hypotheses were tested to explore the relation-

 ships between (a) co-morbidity, (b) duration of the illness,

 and (c) closeness to death, and certain psychosocial

 variables. All three hypotheses were addressed through

 correlation analysis.


 Hypothesis four: There is no relationship between co-

 morbidity and psychosocial variables.