Being in Tune With Life

Abstract

Complementary therapies are commonly used by the public. Increasingly, complementary therapies are being used in hospices for symptom management; however, little research is available on their effect on patient well-being. Purpose: This study explores experiences of 15 hospice residents who received complementary therapies and describes the hospice cultural patterns where complementary therapies were delivered. Method: Ethnography was used to guide data collection. Data were collected by participant observations, formal and informal interviews, and complementary therapy charts in a residential hospice during 9 months. Findings: Three themes of experiencing complementary therapies, reconnecting to life through caring, and presence in relationship were uncovered during data analysis. Implications: Study results suggest that presence may be more important to the patient’s well-being than the physical responses of complementary therapies. Also, a caring culture may influence staff job satisfaction and retention.