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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-12-2006 | Original Article

Expectations to and evaluation of a palliative home-care team as seen by patients and carers

Authors: Dorthe Goldschmidt, Lone Schmidt, Allan Krasnik, Ulla Christensen, Mogens Groenvold

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 12/2006

Abstract

Objectives

Although the number of palliative home-care teams is increasing, knowledge of what patients and principal informal carers expect from a home-care team is sparse. We aimed to elucidate this as well as evaluate a home-care team.

Patients and methods

Individual semi-structured interviews with nine patients and six carers before receiving home care and 2–4 weeks after. In total, 26 interviews were conducted. Interviews were analysed with Template Analysis. Peer debriefing was performed.

Main results

Patients and carers expected the team members to have specialised knowledge in palliative care and to improve their sense of security being at home. They also expected respite for carers and activities for patients. They evaluated the team positively but missed respite for carers and 24-h on-call service.

Conclusions

Patients and carers found the home-care team essential to their sense of security being at home. Primary health care professionals must receive any necessary training outside patients’ homes. Offering respite for carers and 24-h on-call service would be an improvement.

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Title: Expectations to and evaluation of a palliative home-care team as seen by patients and carers
Authors: Dorthe Goldschmidt
Lone Schmidt
Allan Krasnik
Ulla Christensen
Mogens Groenvold
Publication date: 01-12-2006
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 12/2006
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0082-1

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Abstract

Objectives

Patients and methods

Main results

Conclusions

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