In this grounded theory study, the authors interviewed caregivers andpatients in end-of-life cancer care and found Balancing to be a fundamentalprocess explaining the problem-solving strategies of most participants and offering a comprehensive perspective on both health care in general and end-of-life cancer care in particular. Balancing stages wereWeighing— sensing needs and wishes signaled by patients, gauging them against caregiverresources in diagnosing and care planning; Shifting—breaking bad news, changing care places, and treatments; and Compensating—controlling symptoms, educating and team-working, prioritizing and “stretching” time, innovating care methods, improvising, and maintaining the homeostasis of hope. The Balancing outcome is characterized by Compromising, or “Walking a fine line,” at best an optimized situation, at worst a deceit.
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