Analysis of narratives by volunteers who are bereaved families of cancer patients: clarification of meanings of volunteer activities in palliative care unit

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to clarify the meanings of palliative care unit volunteers who are bereaved families of cancer patients (hereafter referred to as "the volunteers"). Methods: Authors analyzed narrative by the seven volunteers using SCAT (Steps for Coding and Theorization). Results: Meanings of their volunteering consists of following four themes which consists of nineteen categories, ‘affectation to the place of the patient's death’, ‘motivations’, ‘role to achieve’, ‘actual activities’, Motivations of the volunteers are overlapped with the results by classical motivation theories plus "satisfaction with palliative care", "optimal last moment including death attending harmonized with the family's thanatological view". Supporting to an aspect of palliative care that is place of life rather than that of medical treatment is core of volunteer activities. Conclusion: It is suggested to necessary for medical professionals to intervene with understanding of the volunteers ambivalent feelings so that they can work safely. Suitable moment to start volunteering for them is further problem to solve.