Perry, Laura M.Mossman, BrennaLewson, Ashley B.Gerhart, James I.Freestone, LilyHoerger, Michael2024-06-242024-06-242022-06Perry, L. M., Mossman, B., Lewson, A. B., Gerhart, J. I., Freestone, L., & Hoerger, M. (2022). Application of terror management theory to end-of-life care decision-making: A narrative literature review. Omega, 302228221107723. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228221107723https://hdl.handle.net/1805/41830Patients with serious illnesses often do not engage in discussions about end-of-life care decision-making, or do so reluctantly. These discussions can be useful in facilitating advance care planning and connecting patients to services such as palliative care that improve quality of life. Terror Management Theory, a social psychology theory stating that humans are motivated to resolve the discomfort surrounding their inevitable death, has been discussed in the psychology literature as an underlying basis of human decision-making and behavior. This paper explores how Terror Management Theory could be extended to seriously ill populations and applied to their healthcare decision-making processes and quality of care received.en-USPublisher Policyterror management theoryserious illnessend-of-life carepalliative carehealthcare decision-makingArticle