| dc.description.abstract | Background. Anxiety is a common symptom among patients with advanced cancer, however not always recognized in clinical practice. There is a need for interventions to support patients with anxiety, especially in this last phase of life where patients are not always able to communicate about their concerns. Here, loved ones can be a valuable source of information.
Aim. To explore the experiences and views of loved ones concerning the presence, severity, cause, expression and impact of anxiety in patients with advanced cancer admitted to a hospice and their needs regarding anxiety management.
Methods. Qualitative research by performing semi-structured interviews among loved ones of patients admitted to a hospice. Open and axial coding was performed to reduce the data into relevant concepts.
Results. Of the 14 loved ones, 64.3% was female, most were in the role of daughter and the mean age was 56 years. Loved ones identified a variety of causes and expressions of anxiety and recognized the patients’ need for support. Mean score of patients’ anxiety scored by loved ones was 6 (NRS 0-10). They indicate that anxiety affects both the physical, psychological, social and existential dimensions. Loved ones noted that the anxiety in the patient also affects themselves.
Conclusion. Although the perspective of the patient is the golden standard, loved ones can be a valuable source of information in the recognition and support concerning anxiety. Therefore, loved ones should be more involved in the care for patient with anxiety. Given the impact of anxiety on both patient and loved ones, interventions should be aimed at both patients and loved ones to improve quality of life and dying. | |
