Conclusion
This study revealed that patients with cancer
receiving palliative care often remain within insti-
tutions even though most patients wish to spend
more time at home. The complexity of and fuc-
tuations in the patients’ health status reportedly
had implications for the nurses’ assessment of the
most appropriate place for their discharge.
From the perspective of these hospital nurses,
the nurses in home cares and nursing homes do
not have the competence to manage cancer
patients’ pain. However, the participants seemed
to lack knowledge about palliative care resources
that are available through the community
health-care system.