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World J Psychiatry. Sep 19, 2026; 16(9): 119705
Published online Sep 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.119705
Published online Sep 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.119705
Home-based hospice care alleviates the burden of mental disorders in older patients with advanced cancer
Rong Hou, Xiao-Rui Xue, Bing-Xin Liu, Department of Hospice, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030013, Shanxi Province, China
Jing-Ying Qiao, Department of Psychology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030013, Shanxi Province, China
Author contributions: Hou R conceived and designed the research, performed the experiments, analyzed and interpreted the data, drafted the manuscript, and revised it critically for important intellectual content; Xue XR assisted in experimental design, collected and processed experimental data, participated in data analysis and discussion, and contributed to manuscript revision; Qiao JY provided technical support for the experiments, validated the analytical methods, participated in result interpretation, and commented on the manuscript; Liu BX supervised the entire research project, guided the experimental design and data analysis, revised the manuscript for final publication, and is responsible for all aspects of the work to ensure accuracy and integrity; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The author declares that all the content of the manuscript was written by the author and no AI tools were used.
Institutional review board statement: The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital.
Informed consent statement: The Ethics Committee approved a waiver for informed consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Data sharing statement: The datasets used in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Bing-Xin Liu, MM, Chief Nurse, Department of Hospice, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, No. 3 Employee New Village, Xinghualing District, Taiyuan 030013, Shanxi Province, China.
Received: April 8, 2026
Revised: May 13, 2026
Accepted: May 27, 2026
Published online: September 19, 2026
Processing time: 138 Days and 0.7 Hours
Revised: May 13, 2026
Accepted: May 27, 2026
Published online: September 19, 2026
Processing time: 138 Days and 0.7 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: In older patients with advanced cancer, a high burden of mental disorders and poor sleep quality are common challenges. The present research investigated the clinical utility of home hospice services for this population. Compared with traditional treatment and care approaches, home-based end-of-life care incorporating multidisciplinary nursing, symptom control, psychological support, and caregiver training markedly mitigates anxiety, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbances, while also contributing to better overall quality of life. This conclusion provides solid evidence and practical guidance for end-of-life care practice in older patients with advanced malignant tumors.