Abstract
This study described and explored the everyday activities of people with advanced cancer in relation to time, location, social engagement, and experience. Forty-five adult participants with a diagnosis of advanced cancer were sampled from an oncology outpatient unit. Data were collected with a time use method that involved diaries and interviews. Data were analyzed using a software program describing time use combined with a constant comparative method. The results showed that the participants' days were spent mostly at home and were dominated by self-care and leisure, with social engagement limited to immediate family and close friends. The participants' daily rhythm was identified as closely linked to their experience of satisfaction and consisted of both routine and novel activities. For healthcare services, the results suggest a need for developing services to support people with severe illness in creating and maintaining personal rhythms.
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