Nurses caring for the terminally ill in the community: a review of the literature.

The review considers the literature covering both general district nursing and specialist nursing provision for the terminally ill in the community over the last 10 years in the United Kingdom. It looks at the theoretical and methodological issues associated with research in this area and offers critiques of a number of individual studies in the light of these issues. Research findings are subject to limited comparative analysis and tentative conclusions are drawn regarding the model of care best suited to the needs of those dying at home. Recommendations for future areas of nursing research are made.