An exploration of perceived impact of receiving complementary therapies on service users during the palliative and end-of-life care phase.

Abstract

Background: To explore and understand the narratives of service users in the hospice setting regarding the value they place on complementary therapies and their perceived impact on overall wellbeing.

Methods: This qualitative pilot study, informed by narrative inquiry principles, used purposive sampling to recruit and interview 11 service users receiving complementary therapies in a hospice setting. Data were analysed using a two-cycle coding approach, through manual inductive recognition of patterns.

Findings: Three themes were identified: developing trust in complementary therapy; informal psychological support and applications to everyday life. The benefits derived from complementary therapy sessions include managing anxiety and stress, developing better sleep strategies and devising coping techniques for personal situations and contexts through guided discussions and personal reflection.

Implications: The study suggests a need for further inquiry and professional complementary therapist development to fully harness the therapeutic potential of complementary therapy in a palliative care context. There is potential for palliative settings that incorporate and provide complementary therapies to enhance the role that complementary therapy services play in facilitating coping abilities, reducing anxiety and potentially improving sleep and pain management.