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. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 cancer patients aged 31–77 near the end-of-life (prognosis of 6 months or less left to live). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged: (a) ‘This is me stuck inside my body’—the sick body and the body as a place, focused on the experience of estrangement with and disappointment from the body; (b) ‘In fantasy, everyone wants to be at home and die at home, but life isn't a fantasy’—the sense of home versus the hospital, focused on the sense of place towards home and hospital; and (c) ‘I don't want to meet anyone or to be anywhere’—a lack of sense of place, focused on detachment from physical and social environments and loss of sense of place. The findings demonstrate the complexity of relations with the body as the centre of experience and with the care setting. In conclusion, professional awareness of experiences of sense of place is most relevant to psychosocial interventions with patients near the end-of-life and their families. Interventions focused on improving patients' sense of place should be developed to increase their peace and quality of life and death. Educating families about the various experiences related to the sense of place may foster better understanding and empathy for the person at the end-of-life and allow a more positive experience of separation and bereavement after death.

中文翻译：

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“没有像家一样的地方？” 癌症患者临终时地方感体验的定性研究

只有少数研究在生活和接受护理的地方检查了临终体验。地方感由与地方相关的情感纽带、价值观、意义和符号组成。本研究旨在探讨通过家庭临终关怀或在医院接受临终护理的个体在临终时的地方感体验。对 20 名年龄在 31 至 77 岁的癌症患者进行了深入的半结构化访谈（预后为 6 个月或更短的生命）。使用主题分析对数据进行分析。出现了三个主题：（a）“这是我被困在我的身体里”——生病的身体和作为一个地方的身体，专注于与身体疏远和失望的体验；(b) '在幻想中，每个人都想在家里死在家里，但生活不是' ta Fantasy'——家对医院的感觉，侧重于对家和医院的地方感；(c) “我不想见任何人或在任何地方”——缺乏地方感，专注于脱离物理和社会环境以及失去地方感。研究结果表明，以身体为体验中心的关系以及与护理环境的关系的复杂性。总之，对地方感体验的专业意识与临终患者及其家人的心理社会干预最相关。应制定以改善患者地方感为重点的干预措施，以提高他们的安宁和生死质量。