LAUSR

OBJECTIVE Home-based palliative care has been suggested to be a beneficial model of care. Whether it is a desirable option of the family and patients is arguable. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the experience of the family the palliative cancer patients in their decision-making process of taking care of the patients at home. METHODS This study was a qualitative study using descriptive phenomenology approach. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 10 family member of the palliative cancer patients. RESULTS Three themes emerged in this study: (1) family's limited knowledge and skill to take care of the palliative cancer patients at home, (2) family wish the patients to stay being treated in the hospitals, (3) family depends on the hospital for palliative cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS Nurses should evaluate family preference, readiness, and capabilities in taking care of palliative cancer patients at home. Nurses should collaborate with the health care providers in assisting the family in their decision making to keep the palliative care patients at the hospital or take them home.