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Treating hopelessness: nursing strategies from six countries
Clinical Nursing Research
|November 1, 1992
Summary
Critical care nurses employ diverse strategies to combat patient hopelessness, focusing on interpersonal connection, family involvement, and empowerment. Cultural differences influence specific approaches, such as physical comfort or positive provocation.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Hopelessness is a significant challenge in critical care settings.
- Effective strategies for addressing hopelessness are crucial for patient well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and compare strategies used by critical care nurses to treat hopelessness across six countries.
- To understand cultural variations in hope-inspiring interventions.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative study involving 188 critical care nurses from Belgium, Canada, Colombia, England, France, and the United States.
- Data collected via open-ended questionnaires and analyzed using content analysis and data reduction techniques.
Main Results:
- Key strategies included interpersonal connection (listening, empathy), family involvement, sharing success stories, progress reports, empowerment, and referrals.
- Country-specific differences emerged, with some nations emphasizing physical comfort and others employing "positive provocation" to foster self-sufficiency.
Conclusions:
- Critical care nurses utilize a range of interpersonal and practical strategies to combat patient hopelessness.
- Cultural context significantly shapes the implementation of these hope-inspiring interventions.