The Process of Assessment and Intervention by Nurses in the "Concerns and True Feelings" of Terminal Cancer Patients in General Wards.

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the process in which nurses involved in terminal cancer care infer the concerns and true feelings of their patients who find it difficult to express such feelings. A qualitative descriptive study design was applied. The research participants were 8 nurses from 2 facilities who provide care for terminal cancer patients in general wards. Interviews were conducted with each research participant through a semi-structured interview. A verbatim record was created from the recorded data of the interview and analyzed using the modified Grounded Theory Approach. The process assessment and intervention in the patient's "concerns and true feelings" was as follows：First, the nurse provided《care to make the patient physically comfortable》．Next, the nurse〈built a rapport〉with the patient. They《probed further into the patient’s concerns and true feelings》，and this finally led to an〈intervention into the patient’s concerns and true feelings〉．In contrast,〈hesitating to intervene〉may also prevent the intervention from happening. The nurse had〈accrued the experience〉that, in either of these cases the intervention may or may not happen. Factors impacting the《probing of the patient’s concerns and true feelings》included〈timing〉and〈the involvement of the medical team〉．Reflections on both experiences of being able and not being able to intervene led to the accumulation of clinical knowledge on "concerns and true feelings."