Hospice Day Research Articles

Patients’ perceptions of hospice day care: a phenomenological study

This study explored the perceptions of 12 patients attending a day care unit in June/July 1996, with the purpose of finding out what was important to these people about their day care experiences. It used a phenomenological methodology derived from Paterson and Zderad’s Humanistic Nursing Theory. The patients described numerous aspects of the day care service that were important to them. All 12 people interviewed considered the service satisfactory, and a number considered it to be more than anyone could or should expect. Day care was found to help them feel comfortable, to feel of value and to feel less isolated. In addition, the participants were found to be living with cancer in two different ways. All 12 knew they had cancer and might be terminally ill. Yet some seemed to “tolerate” their life with cancer, whereas others saw it as requiring “adaptation”. The day care service was supporting both these styles of managing life with cancer. The interpretation of the findings suggests that the reason patients expressed such satisfaction with the service offered was because the care was humanistic. It responded to individual opinions, feelings and understandings of health and well-being, by giving people time and responding to their individual concerns. In this way, it was flexible enough to support people in managing their illness using their own preferred style.

Participation in a creative arts project can foster hope in a hospice day centre.

This study explored the experiences of terminally ill patients taking part in an exhibition of their creative arts work. It took place in St Christopher's Hospice day centre, London, UK, which aims to facilitate an environment in which a range of social and creative opportunities is offered following the theoretical background of Maslow's and Rogers' theories of personal growth and creativity. A phenomenological study explored the views of 10 patients and eleven facilitators using in-depth, semi-structured, audiotaped interviews. A content analysis identified the main themes as enjoyment, enthusiasm, excitement, pride, achievement, satisfaction, sense of purpose, mutual support and permanence. These themes were interpreted as positive expressions of self-esteem, autonomy, social integration and hope. It is suggested that it was possible to identify hope as the essence of the phenomenon, and that this is important in palliative care where traditionally continuation of active medical intervention has been equated with provision of hope.

Transition, transformation and the art of losing: Some uses of poetry in hospice care for the terminally ill

What lessons for psychotherapy can be drawn from the enjoyment and sustenance we find in the use of literature? This paper looks back on a recent creative writing project undertaken with patients in a hospice day centre, and suggested reasons why the patients found this activity not only enjoyable but also therapeutic. Both the hospice as an institution and the poetic form are defined in terms of a transitional space. The article shows how the act of reading and writing poetry places a value for patients on not knowing at a time when the plain hard facts of terminal illness loom large. The author describes a practical way of engaging with poetry in this context, and uses clinical material to describe how the literary arts can provide a transformational object, and a point of inspiration, that may help patients to negotiate the changes brought about by their illness.

A study of the perceptions of hospice day care patients: my phenomenological methodology

This paper describes the phenomenological methodology used to evaluate a hospice day care service from the perspective of twelve patients attending a UK hospice in June/July 1996. It briefly compares and contrasts a variety of phenomenological methodologies, then gives an account of the development and application of the phenomenological methodology used for the study.

Hypnotherapy in palliative care.

Complementary therapies have found increasing vogue in the management of patients with cancer, although little formal evaluation has been undertaken. We report on our experience of offering hynotherapy to palliative care outpatients in a hospice day care setting. During 2 1/2 years, 256 patients had hypnotherapy, all singly; two-thirds (n = 104) were women. Only 13% (n = 21) had four or more treatment sessions. At the time of survey, the 52 patients still alive were mailed an evaluation sheet, of whom 41 responded. 61% reported improved coping with their illness. 7% (n = 3) reported harmful or negative effects from hypnotherapy. Amongst those whose coping was unchanged, many found the therapy a pleasant experience. 35 respondents (85%) appended positive comments to their questionnaire returns. Despite the limitations of a retrospective questionnaire, our findings suggest that hypnotherapy, used within strict guidelines in patients with advanced cancer, is a safe complementary therapy to enhance coping.

News

A new exhibition focusing on health from the artist's perspective opened at the Wellcome Foundation in London last week. Ron Sutton, of Wellcome's Community Affairs department, is shown with nurse Mary Neiland, (left) Clinical Service Manager for the Charing Cross and Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals and Anne Gibson, manager of St Christopher's Hospice Day Care Centre, who were among the first to view some of the paintings on show.

Medical Care in Hospice Day Care

Medical Care in Hospice Day Care

Adult hospice day care.

This article describes the concept of adult hospice day care, argues that programs of adult hospice day care can be an important adjunct to home care and inpatient care, and provides a concrete illustration of ways in which a typical program of adult hospice day care might be implemented.

Hospice day care network

Hospice day care network

Hospice day care

Hospice day care is a cost-effective way to expand the range of services available to hospice patients and families. Additionally, day care can increase continuity of care between inpatient and homecare settings, and ease the burden of responsibility on the homecare component of hospice.

Hospice day care standards development in Michigan.

Hospice day care standards development in Michigan.