Experiences of Families Supporting Patients With Refractory Cancer: An Interpretive Descriptive Study.

This study aimed to develop an interpretive understanding of the experiences of family members of patients with refractory cancer across the diagnosis and treatment stages and daily life, and explore implications for nursing support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with family members of patients with refractory cancer, and the data were analyzed using interpretive description. Participants included three men and six women, consisting of eight spouses and one adult child. The patients' cancer types included pancreatic cancer (n = 6), scirrhous gastric cancer (n = 1), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n = 1), and ovarian tumor (n = 1). Data analysis resulted in the construction of six themes: confronting the reality of refractoriness; struggling with the desire to support the patient; reorganizing daily life and managing multiple burdens; emotional fluctuations and isolation; experiencing support and distress within relationships; and unmet support needs. Overall, the family experience was interpreted as a process of navigating the realities of refractoriness while seeking support and readjustment. The findings indicate that family members' experiences constitute a distinct and dynamic process characterized by anticipatory grief, emotional burden, and the reorganization of daily life, thereby underscoring the importance of sustained, family-centered nursing support throughout refractory cancer care.