Development and implementation of a Hope Intervention Program

Area of Science:

• Oncology Nursing
• Psychosocial Oncology
• Intervention Research

Background:

• Hope is a critical psychosocial factor in cancer survivorship.
• Hopelessness can negatively impact patient outcomes and quality of life.
• Evidence-based interventions are needed to support hope in cancer patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and evaluation of the Hope Intervention Program (HIP).
• To assess HIP's effectiveness in enhancing hope among adult cancer patients.
• To align HIP with the established Hope Process Framework.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive and evaluative study design was employed.
• Participants included 38 adults with recurrent cancer from outpatient oncology clinics.
• Data were collected via questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6, and 9 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Participants utilized intervention strategies reflecting all four attributes of hope.
• The use of specific hope-enhancing strategies varied among individuals and over time.
• The Hope Intervention Program demonstrated positive effects on participants' hope.

Conclusions:

• The Hope Intervention Program (HIP) shows potential for positively influencing patient hope.
• HIP supports the crucial role of nurses in applying research-based strategies to foster hope.
• Implementing HIP can help prevent hopelessness in adult cancer patients.