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Fostering hope in terminally ill patients
1St Wilfrid's Hospice, Chichester, West Sussex. jenny.buckley@stwh.co.uk
Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|December 23, 2004
Summary
Hope persists in terminally ill patients, with specific strategies identified to foster it. This study confirms findings from a previous North American research, offering guidance for palliative care settings.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Psychosocial Oncology
- End-of-Life Studies
Background:
- Hope is crucial for terminally ill patients.
- Understanding hope's meaning and maintenance is vital in palliative care.
- Previous research by Herth (1990a) identified hope-fostering strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the meaning of hope in terminally ill patients.
- To identify patient-derived strategies for maintaining and fostering hope.
- To replicate Herth's (1990a) findings in an English palliative care context.
Main Methods:
- 16 adults receiving palliative care participated.
- Methodological triangulation included background data, Herth Hope Index, and semi-structured interviews.
- Longitudinal data were collected from four participants.
Main Results:
- Hope was present irrespective of proximity to death.
- Seven categories of hope-fostering and three of hope-hindering factors were identified.
- Findings supported Herth's (1990a) original study.
Conclusions:
- Hope remains a significant factor throughout the dying process.
- The study provides a framework for practitioners to foster hope in palliative care.
- Interventions can be developed to enhance hope in end-of-life care.