“It is a Part of Me”: The Experiences of Patients with Cancer Undergoing Home-Based Chemotherapy.
Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs 2022;
9:100072. [PMID:
35692730 PMCID:
PMC9184288 DOI:
10.1016/j.apjon.2022.04.011]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
Home-based chemotherapy is widely used and offers advantages in terms of patient-centeredness, hospital capacity, and cost-effectiveness. However, in practice, patients experience difficulties with self-management and handling the elastomeric infuser. In this study, we aimed to explore the experiences of patients undergoing home-based chemotherapy based on patients’ and nurses’ perspectives. Additionally, we aimed to identify patients’ unmet needs.
Methods
A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Ten patients undergoing home-based chemotherapy and ten nurses with experience in home-based chemotherapy participated. Data were collected by using semi-structured individual interviews and analyzed by using inductive content analysis.
Results
Four main categories were identified based on the interviews: (1) ambivalence regarding comfort vs. enduring the discomfort, (2) acceptance of the discomfort as a part of them, (3) the need for more precise, numerical measurements, and (4) the realization that they need similar hands-on care at home as in a hospital.
Conclusions
Although patients were satisfied with home-based chemotherapy, they were enduring the difficulties they experienced at home alone. Nurses should make an effort to identify patient needs and devise tailored nursing interventions to improve their safety.
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