The meaning of occupation for patients in palliative care when in hospital

The aim of this study was to describe how patients in palliative care relate to occupation during hospitalization and to define the meaning it has for them.

Eight inpatients in palliative care with various cancer diagnoses were interviewed one time. These interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Patients experience occupations as meaningful when in hospital during the last period of their lives. They would like to be able to handle their own needs as much as possible. Staff behavior, the design of the environment, the lack of accessible occupations, and the degree to which patients can decide whether to receive or decline visits affect the possibility to make their wishes a reality. Our results also revealed that patients experience a sense of loss of their role, as well as a lack of control and participation.

Our results confirm the importance of occupation and of patients having the option to and being given opportunities to take care of themselves when in palliative care. Further studies are needed to enable us to understand how organized occupations might influence patients' experience of being in a hospital during the final period of life.