Experiences of older women with cancer receiving hospice care: significance for physical therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The number of older adults with cancer is growing, increasing the need for professionals who are able to meet these patients' special needs. In palliative care settings, physical therapists strive to promote quality of life. Minimal research exists, however, to guide therapists working with patients with terminal illness. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge that can be used by physical therapists to more effectively assess and treat older people with cancer receiving hospice care.


METHODS
A qualitative single-case study with replication was conducted with 3 older women with cancer who were receiving hospice care. Interview data were analyzed using grounded theory techniques.


RESULTS
Four themes emerged as central to the experience of the informants: social relationships, spirituality, outlook on mortality, and meaningful physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to maintaining physical function, physical therapists, who attend to nonphysical as well as physical aspects of care, may foster social cohesion, help maximize life's meaning, and support stabilizing strategies of older women with cancer who receive hospice care.
Mackey
K M
KM
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. themackeys@hotmail.com
Sparling
J W
JW
D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D010346:Patient Care Management; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012944:Social Support