Patients' Experiences With Hospital at Home Following Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND

Hospital at Home (HaH) models aim to deliver hospital-level care to patients in a home setting. In the context of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), HaH is intended to improve patients' quality of life and reduce symptom burden. However, limited research exists on patients' perceptions of this innovative care model.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore how patients experienced HaH following HSCT.

METHODS

A qualitative exploratory research design was employed, utilizing semistructured individual interviews. Sixteen patients who received HaH care following HSCT were interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes representing patterns of meaning across the dataset.

RESULTS

The following 3 themes were identified: (1) actively working through the illness experience: participants needed to engage in active coping mechanisms, emphasizing the crucial role of their informal caregivers, (2) recognition of normality in the illness situation: experiencing autonomy and living in a homelike environment enhanced their sense of normality, and (3) fundamental aspects of daily life that promote recovery: psychological and emotional benefits of the private setting, including improved rest, calmness, relaxation, increased physical activity, and the opportunities to engage in familiar daily activities, facilitated recovery in ways that differed from the traditional hospital setting.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that HaH positively influences recovery and well-being among HSCT patients and has the potential to improve patient outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: HaH offers a viable alternative to traditional hospitalization, promoting a more personalized approach to care.