Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
More recently hospice care has expanded to include specialist
palliative day care. In general, these services provide facilities for
medical and nursing assessment and care, coupled with social and
therapeutic interventions provided by a multidisciplinary team
(Goodwin et al, 2002). Whilst good symptom control and
psychological support can be provided by primary care teams
supported by palliative care teams in the community, there is a
recognised need for peer group support. Patients faced with a life
threatening illness have to make major lifestyle adjustments as they
lose independence. However, we know little about the impact of
hospice day care services and how effective they are at helping
individuals manage what is happening to them. Lawton (2000)
asserts that palliative day care allows patients to receive physical,
psychological and social care allowing them to remain in their home
environment. Thompson (1990) also suggests that palliative day
care increases the continuity between in-patient and home care and
can ease the burden of responsibility on carers. While the National
Advisory Committee Report on Palliative Care (Department of
Health and Children, 2001) and A Baseline Study of the Provisions
of Hospice/Specialist Palliative Care Services in Ireland (Irish
Hospice Foundation 2006) highlight the crucial role which Hospice
Day care provides to patients with terminal illness, there is a lack of
empirical work which explores this role.
Aim of the Study.
To examine the role of Hospice Day Care in the care of patients with
life limiting illness.
Full ethical approval was obtained to conduct this study.
Methodology Methods: Using an ethnographic approach various
tools of data collection, namely participant observation, informal
interviews and in-depth interviews with 15 patients were used to
collect data in this study.
Findings suggest that patients experienced layers of activity in
hospice day care depending on their individual needs. Patients
experienced a base layer of physical,emotional and social care and
then an additional layer of medical and creative therapies.
Conclusion: Hospice day care is a complex service that attempts to
address the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of
individual patients and their families within an environment that
promotes their uniqueness.
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