2023 Volume 37 Article ID: 37_104_honda
Purpose: To explore how home-visit nurses support the administration of medication in older adult cancer patients undergoing oral chemotherapy.
Methods: Qualitative and descriptive research was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 14 home-visit nurses who had experience in providing home nursing care to older adult cancer patients undergoing oral chemotherapy in their own homes. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data.
Results: Three themes were identified in this study: medication assistance as a secondary purpose, exploring the meaning of treatment for patients, and doing the best within set limits.
Conclusions: Home-visit nurses prioritized relationship-building with older adult cancer patients, emphasized respect for the patients’ autonomy and maintaining their lives at home, and gave support for medication administration, which was regarded as a secondary matter. Additionally, home-visit nurses maintained their stance of searching for the underlying intentions of the patients and exploring the meaning of treatment for patients, even while facing conflicts with applying treatment for older adult cancer patients. They tried their best within set limits by incorporating medication into the patients’ lives, building a network for risk, and taking action to defend the patients.
