Hope among terminally ill patients in Singapore: an exploratory study

This study presents an exploration into hope, a source of strength among the terminally ill patients in Singapore. It explores, from the conventionally neglected patients' perspective, their definition of hope, factors that cause changes in their hope and roles that the formal service providers can play to instill hope in patients. All the respondents who participated in this study were diagnosed with terminal cancer and were staying in Dover Park Hospice, a hospice in Singapore for the terminally ill. The results reveal that there is greater diversity in the definition of hope among patients in Singapore compared with the definition given by patients from the studies with a non-Asian sample. Support from people, religion, acceptance of illness, and knowledge of self in better condition as compared with others were four factors found helpful in promoting hope while absence of family members led to a decrease in hope. There were three main roles performed by the formal service providers that were perceived as useful in instilling hope among terminally ill patients. They were that of (1) a care provider, (2) a provider of emotional support, and (3) a wish fulfiller. In the final analysis, the study seems to suggest that spiritual and relational hopes, together with open and honest communication between patients and family members, are very important strengths for Singaporeans diagnosed with advanced illness.