'No place like home?' A qualitative study of the experience of sense of place among cancer patients near the end of life.

Only a few studies have examined the end-of-life experience in the context of the place of living and receiving care. Sense of place consists of emotional bonds, values, meaning, and symbols attached to a place. This study aimed to explore the experience of a sense of place among individuals at the end-of-life receiving care at home via home-hospice or in a hospital.

Introducing the concept sense of place: A mediator between place of care and emotional distress of patients with cancer at the end of life.

Background: A sense of place (SOP) is defined as the emotional bonds, values, meaning, and symbols attached to a place.

Aim: To assess SOP of patients with cancer during end-of-life care at home (home-hospice service) versus at a hospital in relation to place of care, social support, and emotional distress.

Methods: Participants were 150, stage IV, cancer patients with a life expectancy of less than 6 months, as defined by oncological staff, who were not receiving any life-prolonging care.