Psychosocial home visits in cancer treatment: a qualitative study on the content of home visits

As an initial part of a large randomized psychosocial intervention study on the effect of home visits to Danish patients with colorectal cancer, a qualitative interview study was performed to investigate how these home visits should be carried out. The study included 21 informants, consisting of a of patients with colorectal cancer, an of patients with breast cancer who had previously received home visits in another project, a of volunteers performing home visits, and a of researchers in the field of home visiting. The results of qualitative semistructured interviews were compared and analyzed. Common themes were identified and placed in a paradigm model. Respect for the patient as a fellow human being was a prerequisite for ensuring confidence and was chosen as the core category in the analysis. The analysis suggested that visits to patients' homes resulted in better balanced contacts than did visits at hospitals. Most patients requested personal involvement and continuity from their visitors, preferably a healthcare professional capable of providing health information and practical help. In conclusion, we expect that coping with the consequences of a diagnosis of cancer will be improved when patients are regarded as individuals rather than as objects. Home visits may facilitate this process.