Article
Recommendations for Hospice Care to Terminally Ill Cancer Patients: A Phenomenological Study of Oncologists' Experiences
Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care
(2014)
Abstract
The aim of this exploratory study was to better understand oncologists' experiences and their perceptions of hospice care as an end-of-life treatment choice for terminally ill cancer patients. To describe this experience, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted using phenomenological methods with nine oncologists. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) feelings of discomfort and relief, (b) being different from others, (c) experience with nonhospice patients, and (d) factors influencing the decision to recommend hospice. Future research and a flexible interdisciplinary practice model are suggested to better assist with end-of-life care decision making and recommendations for hospice care with oncologists and their terminally ill cancer patients are presented.
Keywords
- Hospice,
- Oncology social work,
- Phenomenology,
- Physician decision making,
- Qualitative,
- Terminal illness
Disciplines
Publication Date
2014
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15524256.2014.906373
Citation Information
Marmo, S. (2014). Recommendations for Hospice Care to Terminally Ill Cancer Patients: A Phenomenological Study of Oncologists' Experiences. Journal of social work in end-of-life & palliative care, 10(2), 149-169.