Here is one of the few books that elucidates the wide range and complexity of special concerns intrinsic to the assessment of terminally ill patients and their families. Health care experts discuss psychosocial assessment and measurement and the ability of clinicians to accurately assess and track psychosocial functioning of patients and their families. Each chapter examine specific methodological considerations in terminal care. Several important content areas are discussed at length, including assessment of pain, assessment of distress in children, evaluation of cognitive functioning, and measurement of patient and family satisfaction.