Purpose: In healthcare related to hospital discharge and follow-up, it is acknowledged that patient participation can strengthen self-management in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the meaning of participation in care following a severe acute exacerbation is less described. Therefore, the aim of this part of a larger study was to explore patients’ experiences of participating in their care around discharge and in their subsequent day-to-day care at home. Method: The study was designed as a qualitative, longitudinal study. Data were collected by repeated participant observations and in-depth interviews with 15 patients within a period of 18 months post-discharge. A phenomenological-hermeneutic approach was used to interpret the data. Results: Before discharge, the patients struggled to regain a sense of control in their efforts to build up strength, and acquire sufficient clarity and confidence to face self-management at home. At home, the patients strived to comply with advice and encouragement in a struggle to stay motivated and confident, and to ask for help. Conclusions: With more knowledge about patients’ participation in care, healthcare professionals can encounter patients in ways that are sensitive to their specific care and support needs and, thereby, contribute to the promotion of patients’ health and well‐being.

Background: In the transition between being a hospitalized patient with cancer and resuming “normal” life, many patients experience physical, mental, and social challenges. Scientifically, as well as politically, it is therefore recommended to undertake research with a focus on rethinking and reorganizing follow-up after cancer treatment. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the perspectives of fast-track colorectal cancer surgery patients on challenges experienced in the transition from being a hospitalized patient with cancer to being a cancer survivor. Methods: The current article represents phase 1 in an ongoing action research project. Data were analyzed by using the “interpretive description” method. Results: Twelve patients (6 male and 6 female patients; mean age, 72.4 years) participated in the study. The analyses show that the patients physically experienced readiness to leave hospital after a few days; however, shortly after returning home, most of them became mentally overwhelmed by the feeling of vulnerability that was closely related to the feeling of being handed over the responsibility for a newly cancer-operated body and a fragile life situation. Four issues that challenged the patients emerged from the analysis: restore an everyday life, participate in a follow-up program, get relevant information, and manage contact with relevant health professionals. Conclusions: The study indicates that the transition to restoring a normal life after cancer surgery had been an experience characterized by more vulnerability than expected by the patients in the study. Implications for Practice: The findings provide 4 well-defined themes, each of which constitutes a point of departure related to focused patient-centered interventions related to follow-up after cancer surgery.

Background: Because of cancer survivors’ increased need for help and support, cancer rehabilitation should be an essential part of cancer treatment, where focusing on patients’ individual needs is essential. Objective: To provide an overview of existing evidence about nurses’ roles and participation in cancer rehabilitation, based on both nurses’ and patients’ perspectives. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE and Cochrane databases for studies published from January 2001–January 2022. Whittemore and Knafl’s methodology for data extraction and synthesis was used, and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines were followed. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021223683). Results: Ten qualitative studies and 7 quantitative studies were included, encompassing 306 patients and 1847 clinicians (1164 nurses). Three nursing roles emerged: (1) relationship-forming, in which nurses described ongoing involvement in patients’ rehabilitation and patients described nurses as trusted partners; (2) coordinating, in which nurses described a lack of time and resources and a focus on medical treatment, and patients described nurses as expert coordinators; and (3) follow-up, in which patients described nurses as good communicators and trusted partners in their follow-up, and nurses described their natural interest in patients’ rehabilitation outcomes during follow-up. Conclusions: Patients were comfortable with nurses as trusted partners during cancer rehabilitation. Significant barriers such as lack of time, resources, and education about rehabilitation may negatively influence rehabilitation planning, implementation, and monitoring. Implications for Practice: Clinicians can use the findings to improve cancer rehabilitation with the nurse as a central provider and conduct further research on the coordinating and follow-up roles.