Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the feelings of terminal cancer patients under home care from the patient's viewpoint. Ethnonursing was employed in data collection and analysis. Three terminal cancer patients under home care were the key informants. Seven general informants included two members of patient families, three visiting nurses, and two home-helpers. The data analysis produced six findings. Theme 1 : Patients feel they will somehow be able to survive using various means at their disposal. Theme 2 : Patients repeatedly experience the conflict of wanting to live, but having to accept death, and in the midst of this conflict they prepare for death. Theme 3: Patients compare hospital and home care, and wish to have an ordinary life in the home and contact with others just as before. Theme 4 : Patients are searching for meaning by fulfilling some role in society. Theme 5 : Patients are aware they must receive some form of medical treatment even if at home. Theme 6 : Patients needing assistance from others try to continue the relationship by maintaining a passive relation with them. The overall finding elicited from above is that while accepting their situation, terminal cancer patients under home care wish to live like an ordinary person in society, right up until the end at home. From these results, it considered that terminal cancer patients under home care, and suggestions for nursing were obtained.
