Discharge planning of terminally ill patients home from an acute hospital

This exploratory descriptive study was designed to explore how well carers perceived they were being prepared by hospital staff to care for a terminally ill relative at home. In particular the study focused on the information and practical advice and support they received in hospital and how much this facilitated them in caring at home following the patient's discharge from hospital. The study used a convenience sample of 12 patients and carers referred to a specialist palliative care service in an acute teaching hospital. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis identified an overarching theme and related categories on coping with caring at home. The findings are supported by Folkman's (1997) model of stress and coping and corroborated by other research on carers' needs (Davies et al, 1994; Fakhoury et al, 1997). Interventions that may enable health professionals to facilitate carers to cope more effectively in caring at home and recommendations for further study are discussed.