Improved quality of life (QOL) in terminal renal carcinoma patients through home nurse visitation: some considerations
Anzai, M.; Sugihara, S.; Enomoto, K.; Kashima, A.; Sueda, M.; Fukuyama, Y.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 22(Suppl 4): 322-325
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 8849270 Document Number: 441334
Ours is a general hospital administered directly by the government. There are 585 beds and some 1,200 outpatients on average per day. Visits by home nurses began in September of 1990, and beginning in April of 1994 a home nursing department has been in place at the Community Medical Center. There are 5 persons in charge of the visits. Home visits are paid to 40 patients at present on an ongoing basis. In recent years, malignant diseases have been increasing, and there has been much discussion devoted to the quality of life (QOL) of the patients. In 1994, 15 of the 60 patients visited had malignant diseases. Presently, a 63-year-old female patient with terminal kidney cancer is receiving HPN. Thanks to home nursing visits, she has been able to be discharged. This patient had been receiving home nursing visits from December 21, 1993 until June 20 of 1994 at the rate of 2 visits per month. The person in charge gave guidance for HPN management, and the patient began to regain her pre-hospitalization life and a sense of her role in her family and society. As a result, though she had not actively fought the disease while in the hospital, she gained confidence with the HPN, and with her husband's help, she became a Culture School teacher, resumed her role in society and found her life meaningful. Since there were limits to her husband's ability to care for her, she agreed to enter the hospital again, but was able to continue meaningful life at home for 6 months with assistance from a caregiver, and thus achieved a high QOL.