Perceptions of quality of life by people with advanced cancer who live at home

Hanne Peoples, Nina Nissen, Åse Brandt, Karen la Cour

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftsartikelForskningpeer review


People with advanced cancer often experience reduced ability to engage in occupations, which may influence quality of life. A growing
number of people with advanced cancer receive palliative care at home
and thus the home becomes the place where most of their everyday
occupations occur. The purpose of this study was to explore, from an
occupational perspective, how people with advanced cancer who live at
home, perceive quality of life.
Method: A qualitative descriptive design was employed, consisting of two
consecutive interviews: a semi-structured interview and a subsequent
photo-elicitation interview. Thematic analysis was used to explore the
data. Ten participants took part in this study.
Findings: The analysis identified three interrelated themes, ‘Quality of
life during changing circumstances’, ‘Striving to continue everyday life’
and ‘Being independent and connected’.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of everyday life
continuity and ongoing changes and adjustments needed to maintain
quality of life. However, due to the progressive nature of advanced
cancer, the required adjustments may not always be possible. The
findings furthermore show that loss of independence and increased
dependence may lead to a new sense of interdependence and closeness
with family and friends, which positively influences quality of life.
TidsskriftBritish Journal of Occupational Therapy
StatusUdgivet - okt. 2020