Death anxiety in advanced cancer patients and family caregivers: A scoping review.

Authors

Qian Sun, Janelle Yorke, Herbert Ho Fung Loong, Haiyue Luo, Xuexun Xiao, Qi Liu, Ting Mao, Ka Yan Ho

Published in

European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society. Volume 85. Pages 103334. Oct 02, 2026. Epub Oct 02, 2026.

Abstract

To map the landscape of death anxiety regarding its conceptualization, prevalence, correlates, and management within both patients and caregivers.
We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, CNKI and Wanfang from their inception to 5 January, 2026. This scoping review was conducted following the framework of Arksey and O'Malley and was reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Following the screening of abstracts and full-text articles, data were extracted and synthesized using an inductive thematic analysis.
A total of 54 studies were included. Death anxiety is multidimensional, involving fear of one's own death and loss, with varied measurement tools. Contributing factors are demographic, disease-related, psychosocial, and relational. Consequences include psychological distress, reduced quality of life, and compromised caregiving or decisions. Individual therapies like Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully are effective for patients, but integrated dyadic interventions are scarce.
This scoping review demonstrates that death anxiety in advanced cancer is a multidimensional and relational phenomenon influencing both patients and caregivers. Recognizing death anxiety as a shared emotional burden highlights the need to move beyond individual-based interventions toward integrated dyadic approaches that address death anxiety. Embedding death anxiety management within holistic care models may enhance emotional adaptation and end-of-life quality. Continued research should refine theoretical frameworks and develop evidence-based strategies to mitigate the reciprocal impact of death anxiety across cancer patient-caregiver dyads.

PMID:
42896259
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 20 Oct 2026.

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