Occupations creating joy for people living with advanced cancer: A qualitative descriptive study

Abstract

Introduction For people living with advanced cancer, the possibilities for experiences of joy are seriously influenced by the consequences of the illness. Due to the limited expected lifetime, the need to support such experiences that may entail joy and contribute to quality of life are of importance. Research shows that people with advanced cancer experience quality of life through occupations they are able to perform and enjoy. The aim of this study was to describe which occupations contribute to joy for people living with advanced cancer and explore how they reflect upon these occupations during an occupational therapy intervention. Methods In total, 111 people with advanced cancer from the intervention group in a randomised controlled trial participated in the present study. Thirty-six of these participants were interviewed, and for 10 participants, this was combined with participant observations. A directed and a conventional content analysis were applied. Results 148 occupations contributing to joy were categorised into self-care, leisure and productivity. Most occupations were placed into leisure (89%). Participants had three distinct approaches to occupations contributing to joy: Finding solutions to maintain occupations contributing to joy; having an all or nothing approach; and hoping to resume occupations contributing to joy. Conclusion This study found a wide range of occupations contributing to joy and shows the importance of focusing on enabling leisure occupations for people living with advanced cancer. The wide range of occupations as well as participants’ approaches to occupations may be useful to inform future interventions to enable enjoyment for people living with advanced cancer.

Collective building of a leisure understanding in territorial mental health, by occupational therapists: a qualitative study

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Construção coletiva do entendimento de lazer na saúde mental territorial por terapeutas ocupacionais: um estudo qualitativo

“…Os autores interpretaram que as falas do grupo estão em alinhamento com a literatura da terapia ocupacional pesquisada no tocante ao lazer, visto que ela também reforça a presença do prazer como elemento substancial no lazer (Alcântara & Brito, 2012;Alegría et al, 2013;Almeida et al, 2018;Costa, 2008;Queiroz, 2020). O mesmo pode ser dito no reduto da ciência ocupacional, uma vez que sentimentos que envolvem o prazer -como alegria, felicidade e satisfação -estão presentes na literatura que aborda o lazer (Atler et al, 2016;Bentz et al, 2022).…”

Assistive devices among people living at home with advanced cancer: Use, non‐use and who have unmet needs for assistive devices?

“…The study also found that nearly all participants had difficulties engaging in everyday activities that they regarded as important, for example, hobbies and craft, gardening, walking, cycling and household activities (Wæhrens et al, 2019). Continued engagement in everyday activities is important for people with advanced cancer at the end of life and may ease suffering (Bentz et al, 2021; Svidén et al, 2010; von Post & Wagman, 2019).…”

“…in everyday activities is important for people with advanced cancer at the end of life and may ease suffering (Bentz et al, 2021;Svidén et al, 2010;von Post & Wagman, 2019).…”