Abstract:
Introduction: Caregivers of terminal cancer patients often face significant stress and complex challenges in delivering effective care. Frequently, they lack access to adequate assistance in caregiving tasks. Smart room technologies offer promising potential to alleviate these burdens by enhancing communication mechanisms and support systems. This study explores the specific needs of terminal cancer patients that could be addressed through the integration of smart room technologies.
Methods: A mixed-methods approach was adopted, involving qualitative interviews to gain in-depth insights into patient and caregiver needs that could be addressed through smart room systems, along with participatory observation in both hospital settings and patients’ homes post-discharge. Focus group interviews were employed to facilitate idea generation through collective caregiver interaction and to identify shared needs. The participants included 40 purposively selected caregivers of terminal cancer patients in palliative care units. Data collection and analysis spanned six months.
Findings: Qualitative findings revealed that features such as remote patient monitoring, automated alerts, and advanced communication interfaces significantly enhance care efficiency and emotional well-being. Caregivers reported increased engagement with healthcare providers and improved awareness of patient status, resulting in greater confidence in their caregiving roles. Personalization of smart room services—such as lighting, temperature, and humidity control, assistance with patient mobility, and maintaining patient autonomy—was identified as a top priority. Each patient had unique requirements that needed to be addressed individually. Additional caregiver-reported needs included: medication reminder boards, dietary schedule management, sleep regulation, access to key contacts (e.g., physiotherapists), psychological services via integrated telehealth platforms, religious needs fulfilled through video calls with spiritual advisors, and the option to customize room aesthetics to reduce boredom and emotional fatigue.
Conclusion: Integrating smart room technologies into palliative oncology care settings significantly enhances caregiver support and interaction. These technologies not only reduce caregiver stress but also improve satisfaction and effectiveness in caregiving tasks. Implementing such systems can contribute to better outcomes for both patients and caregivers within palliative care contexts.
Keywords: Palliative care, Cancer, Caregiver, Smart rooms, Therapeutic technologies.
