Understanding Existential Anxiety and the Soothing Nature of Nostalgia in Life With Incurable Esophageal Cancer: A Phenomenological Hermeneutical Investigation of Patient Narratives

Conclusions The study suggests an empirical interpretation of the existential anxiety patients experience when receiving palliation for incurable esophageal cancer. It sheds light on how these patients would benefit from healthcare professionals inviting them to narrate significant aspects of their life stories in which the soothing presence of nostalgia can be supported. Implication for Practice Providing care conditions for a life heading toward death, where the patient can live alongside anxiety, involves focusing on “being with” the patient and on incorporating a nostalgic dimension to facilitate soothing restoration of home for patients.
Source: Cancer Nursing - Category: Nursing Tags: ARTICLES: ONLINE ONLY Source Type: research