Oncology nurses' lived experiences of video communication in follow-up care of home-living patients: A phenomenological study in rural Norway

Purpose: To explore the lived experiences of oncology nurses (ONs) during three months of virtual care provided through video conferencing (VC) in the follow-up care for home-living patients with cancer in rural Norway. Method: An exploratory study employing a descriptive phenomenological approach conducted with a purposive sample of four ONs working in primary health care in three municipalities. Individual interviews based on openended questions about the ONs' experiences of VC use in follow-up care were analyzed using methodology inspired by Clark Moustakas. The COREQ checklist was utilized in this study. Results: ONs provided VC as a quality-promoting supplement to traditional follow-up. Their lived experiences of the phenomenon were described by the following themes: 1) Choice of VC based on care need considerations, 2) Use of VC on portable tablets facilitated contact and frequent follow-up, and 3) Adaption of relevant virtual care in person-centered and goal-oriented practice. Conclusion: The use of VC may contribute to accessible and frequent quality care and reduce the ONs' travel time for home visits. This study points to a need to individualize and assess the appropriateness of virtual care in challenging cancer situations. Furthermore, there is a need for larger-scale studies on how VC may influence quality care.