ABSTRACT
The physical, psychological, and spiritual symptoms experienced by patients with advanced-stage cancer are not uncommon. A patient's experience of advanced illness is very complex: elements of this experience include suffering from physical symptoms, to coping, financial concerns, caregiver burden, social and family changes, and spiritual concerns. A multidimensional evaluation that includes assessment of the patient's clinical, psychosocial, and spiritual characteristics, identification of specific prognostic factors related to symptoms, and the patient's self-reported symptom burden is extremely important caring for patients with advanced and terminal illness. This chapter aims to bring together and summarize the different components of multidimensional bedside clinical assessment in supportive/palliative care and its importance for symptom control, quality of life, and decision-making.
