Purpose: The aim of this qualitative research was to identify the components of the changes in perception experienced by the physicians and nurses concerning the medical care they provide for Hematology Ward patients in the terminal phase. Methods: We performed semi-structured interviews with three physicians and five nurses concerning case conferences about patients in the terminal phase and both qualitatively and descriptively analyzed the data from those interviews. Results: We extracted the category of ‘consciousness of terminal phase’ from subcategories “consciousness about the period of terminal phase” and “change in care where patients’ remaining time is considered.” We also extracted the category ‘team approach’ from subcategories “know the importance of information sharing within the medical care team,” “nurses can play a coordinating role” and “opportunity to know the will of patientsand families.” Conclusion: The study showed that the case conferences made physicians and nurses conscious of the terminal phase on the medical ward where patients with various symptoms are mixed. We found that case conferences provided an opportunity for physicians and nurses to become conscious of the needs of the terminally ill, become aware of the importance of information sharing, and perceive the importance of the team approach. Furthermore the case conferences caused the nurses to become more aware of their role in the care of patients in the terminal phase. Palliat Care Res 2011; 6(2): 227-232

Purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize the process of adaptation experienced by the spouses of allotransplanted male patients following discharge. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with six spouses and questioned them about the difficulties experienced in daily life following the discharge of their husband, and their coping strategies. We descriptively analyzed the interview data using the modified grounded theory approach. Results: We extracted ‘habituation of combating communicable diseases' from “responsibility for making effort,” “management of everyday life, ”confidence derived from experience “ and “habituation in the family.” We also extracted ‘change in anxiety and concern' from “perception of differences in attitude in daily life between husband and wife,” “change in the sense of values,” “finding a point of compromise in each family,” “benefit from allotransplant,” and “persistent anxiety.” Conclusion: The females habituated themselves to combating communicable diseases by gaining self-efficacy so that they reconciled a new, fixed lifestyle with their husbands following allotransplantation. Although their anxiety and concerns changed over time, they had persistent anxiety about both their husbands' health, including the risk of relapse or graft-versus-host disease, and financial hardships.