Being in tune with life: complementary therapy use and well-being in residential hospice residents.

Full Abstract

Complementary therapies are commonly used by the public. Increasingly, complementary therapies are being used in hospices for symptom management; however, little research is available on their effect on patient well-being. Purpose: This study explores experiences of 15 hospice residents who received complementary therapies and describes the hospice cultural patterns where complementary therapies were delivered. METHOD: Ethnography was used to guide data collection. Data were collected by participant observations, formal and informal interviews, and complementary therapy charts in a residential hospice during 9 months. FINDINGS: Three themes of experiencing complementary therapies, reconnecting to life through caring, and presence in relationship were uncovered during data analysis. IMPLICATIONS: Study results suggest that presence may be more important to the patient's well-being than the physical responses of complementary therapies. Also, a caring culture may influence staff job satisfaction and retention.

Author information

Author/s: Nelson, Jenenne P (JP);

Affiliation: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association (J Holist Nurs), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Sep; vol 24 (issue 3) : pp 152-61

Dates: Created 2006/08/01; Completed 2006/11/28;

PMID: 16880409, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: J Holist Nurs. 2006 Sep;24(3):162-3. (PMID: 16880410)

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