Care Behaviors of Families of Cancer Patients who are Receiving Pain Control through Outpatients Palliative Care

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify how families of cancer patients receiving outpatient palliative care performed care behaviors for patients. Subjects were the families of 10 cancer patients undergoing pain control in outpatient palliative care. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Analysis was conducted using the modified grounded theory approach. Care behaviors of family members of cancer patients included "understanding the cancer status", "support for patients' life during medical treatment", and "supporting treatment". These care behaviors were affected by "perspectives on the patient with cancer", how cancer patients' families viewed patients in daily life. The above showed that the care behaviors of families of cancer patients receiving outpatient palliative care include both support care behaviors for patients during treatment, who experience fluctuations in physical and mental state, and care behaviors to promote treatment that wishes for recovery.