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Perspectives on symptom control in patients receiving community palliative care

Perspectives on symptom control in patients receiving community palliative care
Perspectives on symptom control in patients receiving community palliative care
To remain at home, terminally ill cancer patients need good symptom control and support from informal carers. Few studies have explored the influence of informal carers on symptom control and vice versa. This qualitative case study was carried out in a specialist palliative care service (SPCS) to explore the reasons why patients were admitted for inpatient care. Ten patients were systematically selected and the main carer and health professionals involved in their care were invited to participate. Semi-structured, audiotape recorded interviews were conducted and a thematic analysis performed on the transcripts, using the 'Framework' approach. The results highlight the vital role that carers play in the assessment and management of symptoms in the community. However, carers reported difficulties in knowing what to monitor, how to interpret symptoms accurately and when to inform a professional. It was also reported that medication was not taken as it was prescribed and a number of reasons were given.
care givers, palliative care and home nursing
0269-2163
608-615
Armes, P.J.
71d9d314-e7fc-408d-a5ee-c08ff6757baf
Addington-Hall, J.M.
87560cc4-7562-4f9b-b908-81f3b603fdd8
Armes, P.J.
71d9d314-e7fc-408d-a5ee-c08ff6757baf
Addington-Hall, J.M.
87560cc4-7562-4f9b-b908-81f3b603fdd8

Armes, P.J. and Addington-Hall, J.M. (2003) Perspectives on symptom control in patients receiving community palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 17 (7), 608-615. (doi:10.1191/0269216303pm801oa).

Record type: Article

Abstract

To remain at home, terminally ill cancer patients need good symptom control and support from informal carers. Few studies have explored the influence of informal carers on symptom control and vice versa. This qualitative case study was carried out in a specialist palliative care service (SPCS) to explore the reasons why patients were admitted for inpatient care. Ten patients were systematically selected and the main carer and health professionals involved in their care were invited to participate. Semi-structured, audiotape recorded interviews were conducted and a thematic analysis performed on the transcripts, using the 'Framework' approach. The results highlight the vital role that carers play in the assessment and management of symptoms in the community. However, carers reported difficulties in knowing what to monitor, how to interpret symptoms accurately and when to inform a professional. It was also reported that medication was not taken as it was prescribed and a number of reasons were given.

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More information

Published date: 2003
Keywords: care givers, palliative care and home nursing

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 9800
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/9800
ISSN: 0269-2163
PURE UUID: e2c6efaa-ea85-477b-a8e6-b5b2f3989517

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Date deposited: 23 Oct 2004
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 04:57

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Author: P.J. Armes

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