Qualitative study on cancer patients′ cognition to death and expection for hospice care

Abstract

Objective To know the true psychological feelings of cancer patients for death cognition, as well as the expectations of cancer patients for hospice care, so as to provide references for the targeted development of death education and hospice care. Methods By using the qualitative semi-structured interviews, ten oncology patients were interviewed, and by using the category analysis method, data encoding, classification, and subject extraction were completed. Results After the diagnosis, the ideas of patients were different between patients with religious belief and patients without religious belief. Patients′ attitudes toward death included: accept, and to survive and have hope; patient′s expectations for hospice care included: natual and comfortable, and try to save. Conclusions Medical staff should understand the feelings and the physical and psychological needs of cancer patients, and achieve reasonable inform; encourage patients to open their hearts, and help patients to achieve the desire to overcome the fear of death; and carry out life education and cultivate the scientific view of death. Key words: Neoplasm; Attitude toward death; Hospice care; Qualitative research