Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: 1. \[Both cohorts\] Diagnosis of advanced cancer (defined as locally advanced, metastatic, recurrent, or incurable disease) 2. \[Both cohorts\] Admitted to the PSCU at MD Anderson Cancer Center or seen by the specialist palliative care inpatient consultation team (control cohort only) 3. \[Impending death cohort\] Clinician judgement of .3 days of survival or .1 late sign of impending death\* 4. \[Impending death cohort\] Palliative Performance Scale score of 10-20% 5. \[Control cohort\] Able to communicate for the past 24 hours 6. \[Control cohort\] Clinician judgement of .1 month of survival 7. \[Both cohorts\] English-speaking Exclusion Criteria: 1. \[Both cohorts\] Hearing impairment that significantly impacts daily communication with caregiver prior to entering impending death phase OR requiring hearing aid 2. \[Impending death cohort\] Mental status changes only related to medications as per clinician judgement 3. \[Control cohort\] Diagnosis of delirium (i.e. MDAS .13) 4. \[Both cohorts\] Pregnant women 5. \[Both Cohorts\] Age \< 18 years old