Rehabilitative care in a specialist palliative day care centre: A study of patients’ perspectives

This qualitative study set out to explore cancer patients’ perceptions of a rehabilitative care approach, which they experienced in an independent specialist palliative day care centre. A phenomenological approach was chosen and through semistructured interviews, patients’ perceptions of their symptoms, beliefs and attitudes towards their rehabilitative care were explored. The relevance and benefits of the rehabilitative care approach were then identified using quality of life markers established during data analysis. The main factors uncovered and shown to contribute to the rehabilitation process were: environmental factors; participant interaction; normalization; health-care professional interaction; nutrition; mobilization; and education. However, more research is needed to understand how some of the treatment modalities discussed can help reduce fatigue, pain, dyspnoea and nausea in this group of people.