Methods
Data were collected using individual in-depth interviews with 15 males and 8 females who were hospitalized in a Korean cancer hospital. The transcribed script was analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method.
Results
As a result, three theme clusters and nine themes were identified. The three theme clusters were as follows:“being kind and expert in every step along the cancer care trajectory,”“taking an omnipotent mediator role supporting patients’ well-being,” and “providing professional care touching patients’ mind and body.” Three themes were assigned to each cluster to illustrate the given phenomena.
Conclusion
Cancer patients wanted considerate understanding and sincere care from nurses while they experienced physical and emotional suffering owing to the cancer, treatment trajectory, and hospital system. To improve the quality of nursing care for cancer patients, patient-centered care combined with nurses’ expertise in oncology care must be provided based on the insights from our study's findings.