The Relationship Between Implementation of Home-visit Nursing Support and Experience of Previous Cases of Terminal Cancer Patients with Respiratory Distress and their Family Members
2019 Volume 7 Issue 2 Pages 44-52
Details
2019 Volume 7 Issue 2 Pages 44-52
Purpose：To elucidate the facts concerning home-visit nursing support for terminal cancer patients with respiratory distress and their family members
Method：We conducted a questionnaire survey on nursing staff members of home-visit stations in large cities with high rates of mortality at home. The survey sought to obtain information about the support services that the nurses provide to patients and their family members. We divided the respondents into those who had provided care services to terminal cancer patients with respiratory distress (TC/R) and those who had not and then performed a comparative analysis of the two groups.
Results：With regard to support for the patient, the TC/R respondents practiced the following actions more frequently than their non-TC/R colleagues: consulted with doctors beforehand about emergency responses, provided instructions for palliative care on the phone, promptly visited and treated patients at their homes, carefully listened to their patients’ complaints, adjusted their patients’ posture, and touched or massaged their patients. With regard to caring for the patient’s family members, the TC/R respondents practiced the following actions more frequently than their non-TC/R colleagues: explained the changes in the conditions of diseases using pamphlets and other materials, explained the emergency contact procedures in case a patient stops breathing, dealt compassionately with the family members’ anxieties about the patients’ worsening condition, clarified the uncertainties regarding changes in dietary requirements, asked each family member about their feelings, and encouraged other family members to participate in nursing care.
Conclusion：The survey revealed that home-visit nurses respond swiftly when a patient’s symptoms deteriorate, provide non-pharmacological palliative care, and show compassion in helping families understand and accept the worsening condition of the patient.
