Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite growing research on the daily life of people with advanced cancer, more specific knowledge is needed about the specific strategies these people use to manage everyday activities. PURPOSE: This study explores how people with advanced cancer manage their everyday activities and describe their specific strategies. METHODS: The qualitative study was designed with an explorative approach. Data from 28 people with advanced cancer was drawn from a trial including qualitative interviews to elicit participants' perceptions about managing their everyday activities. Interviews were conducted in participants' homes and analysed using an inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Within an overarching theme of keeping 'Daily life as usual', the findings unfold participants' specific strategies identified within two sub-themes ', Upholding routines' and 'Activity adaptations'. Upholding routines related to 1) Personal care and household and 2) Leisure-, social- and work-life. Activity adaptation about 1) Working with and around physical limitations; 2) Sharing, delegating, and letting go; and 3) Enlisting 'outside' support. CONCLUSION: This study specified participants' specific and distinct self-developed strategies within routines and activity adaptations. The strategies reflect participants' needs for maintaining functioning while relieving pain and mourning, which holds essential potential for informing person-centred intervention development integrating rehabilitation in palliative care.