The Experience of Reflexive Hospice Care for Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Qualitative Study

Background: Hospice care for patients with advanced cancer mainly takes the family members and healthcare professionals as the main body and the patients as the object. There is a lack of relevant research on reflexive hospice care that considers patients as subjects.

Aim: To explore the experience of reflexive hospice care for patients with advanced cancer.

Design: An empirical phenomenological approach to research was conducted.

Methods: Data were collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews between April 3, 2024 and May 27, 2024 in the oncology wards of two comprehensive hospitals. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 18 patients with advanced cancer receiving hospice care. Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis method was used to analyse the data. We followed the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).

Results: Four themes were identified as being relevant to the experience of reflexive hospice care for patients with advanced cancer: the absence of prior awareness, reconciling with self and others, care and concern for others, and pursuing the meaning of life.

Conclusion: This study provides new insights into hospice care for patients with advanced cancer. It emphasises the importance of patients' participation as subjects in hospice care. In reflexive hospice care, patients can actively participate and express their care for others and their understanding of life, thus gaining more respect and care in the end-of-life stage. Therefore, placing patients as the subjects of hospice care and fully respecting and listening to their wishes and needs is one of the most important ways to promote the development of hospice care quality.

Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.