Palliative Care Needs of Families of Adults With Advanced Cancer

Abstract

Diagnosis and treatment of a terminal illness can significantly impact patients and their families, as well as their functionality and daily routines. This study aimed to understand the palliative care needs of a group of families with an adult relative with advanced cancer receiving palliative care. A qualitative approach was used to conduct a content analysis. Fourteen semistructured interviews were carried out with family members in Cundinamarca (Colombia) between March and April 2022. The information was analyzed by coding and categorizing the emerging themes using NVivo. Three main categories emerged: the diagnosis' harsh surprise, the family's coping with the disease, and the palliative care needs of families. Identifying the resources available to families to care for relatives with advanced cancer can facilitate the work of palliative care teams. It is necessary to prevent the family from giving up on caring, which can result from exhaustion due to various causes. Families who have an adult relative with advanced cancer in palliative care face significant challenges. Their situation involves accepting the diagnosis, changing family routines, dealing with the disease and the health care system, and coping with circumstances that create needs of different kinds.

The differences between palliative care and hospice care

“…6,7 In addition to symptom relief, the goal of palliative care is to provide spiritual care, nutritional support, and medical care. 4,8 The patient can still receive aggressive treatment with the goal of curing their illness. 4,9 Healthcare providers focus on providing care based on the needs of the patient, not only the patient's symptoms or diagnosis.…”