The families of deceased patients treated at MSKCC for non-cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract for whom contact information is available will be recruited by mail and by phone.

Study candidates will be contacted by mail with an initial contact letter with information explaining the study, and then will receive a follow-up phone call to discuss their participation in the study no later than 1 month following the posting of the initial contact letter. If a family member or next-of-kin chooses to participate, verbal informed consent will be obtained over the phone and a one-time telephone interview will be conducted.

To determine the perception of the family members of the quality of care received by patients with aerodigestive mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck at the end of their lives. A survey will be administered to the families and next-of-kin of deceased patients. A recently validated survey instrument, the Family Assessment of Treatment at the End of life (FATE), is designed to assess treatment at the end of life based upon the responses of family members of the deceased (Finlay, Shreve et al. 2008).

To identify specific risk factors or interventions that might predict certain quality of death outcomes. A survey will be administered to the families and next-of-kin of deceased patients.A recently validated survey instrument, the Family Assessment of Treatment at the End of life (FATE), is designed to assess treatment at the end of life based upon the responses of family members of the deceased (Finlay, Shreve et al. 2008).