Understanding why palliative care patients 'like day care' and 'getting out'

This study analyzed patients' accounts of how living with terminal illness affects their quality of life and their experiences of attending St. Christopher's Hospice, which operates a psychosocial model of day care. Thirty-four patients took part in six audiotape recorded "goldfish bowl" teaching sessions for medical students. The tapes were transcribed and analyzed and the following themes were identified. Firstly, terminal illness causes multiple losses to quality of life; specific examples of physical limitations, loss of social interaction, low mood, and changed family dynamics were commonly experienced. Secondly, attending the day centre brought about beneficial changes. Patients described change of mood; enjoyment; achievement; sense of community, belonging, and mutual support; and were able to address problems with their relationships. It is concluded that attending day care improved these patients' quality of life. This study, which attends to patients' experiences of day care, builds on data acquired from studies using existing quality of life scales.