TY - JOUR

T1 - Dying at home of cancer: whose needs are being met?

T2 - The experience of family carers and healthcare professionals (a multiperspective qualitative study)

AU - Pottle, Jackie

AU - Hiscock, Julia

AU - Neal, Richard D

AU - Poolman, Marlise

PY - 2020/3

Y1 - 2020/3

N2 - ObjectivesSupporting patients to die in the place of their choosing is an important aspect of end of life care. Our study set out to answer the question: ‘How does the home environment influence perceptions of quality of death, and the experience of caring for the dying at home, for family carers and healthcare professionals (HCPs)?MethodsA qualitative approach, using multiperspective interviews with bereaved familycarers (n=15) and a nominated HCP (n=13) ensured depth of insight gained into supporting a home death. The semistructured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework.ResultsWe found that the home environment enabled normality, a sense of control andindividualised care which family carers often perceived as contributing towards a good death. However, the home environment created challenges for both family carers and HCPs, due to the differing and at times conflicting needs of the dying person and their family carers.ConclusionsWe have shed light on the complexity of balancing the demands and the satisfaction of caring for someone dying at home. The ability to manage these conflicting needs influenced whether carers perceived the home setting as the best place for the person to have received care in their last days of life.

AB - ObjectivesSupporting patients to die in the place of their choosing is an important aspect of end of life care. Our study set out to answer the question: ‘How does the home environment influence perceptions of quality of death, and the experience of caring for the dying at home, for family carers and healthcare professionals (HCPs)?MethodsA qualitative approach, using multiperspective interviews with bereaved familycarers (n=15) and a nominated HCP (n=13) ensured depth of insight gained into supporting a home death. The semistructured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework.ResultsWe found that the home environment enabled normality, a sense of control andindividualised care which family carers often perceived as contributing towards a good death. However, the home environment created challenges for both family carers and HCPs, due to the differing and at times conflicting needs of the dying person and their family carers.ConclusionsWe have shed light on the complexity of balancing the demands and the satisfaction of caring for someone dying at home. The ability to manage these conflicting needs influenced whether carers perceived the home setting as the best place for the person to have received care in their last days of life.

U2 - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2016-001145

DO - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2016-001145

M3 - Article

VL - 10

JO - BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care

JF - BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care

SN - 2045-435X

IS - 1

M1 - e6

ER -