Abstract
Hope performs an important role in how patients and their families cope with suffering and stressful events. To better inform practice and theory on hope, palliative care research should include both patients and their family carers, given their strong interdependence. The aim of this study was to explore how hope is experienced in dyads formed by end-of-life patients and their family carers. In this qualitative study, data were collected by in-depth interviews with seven Portuguese family dyads. Analysis followed a thematic analysis approach. The analysis of the interviews shed light on the importance of hope for all participants, and the challenges involved. Family dyads noted several barriers and facilitators to perceptions of hope. Barriers to hope included limitations imposed by illness, feelings of anguish and helplessness, and poor communication with clinicians. Hope facilitators included supportive others, positive thinking and sense of humour, connection with nature, faith in religion and science, and a sense of compassion with others and altruism. Given the multidimensional scope of hope, the main challenge for family dyads is to look beyond the disease itself. Thus, palliative care teams should be encouraged to support and foster realistic hope, helping families prepare for death, in the context of advanced cancer.
Highlights
IntroductionThe way patients balance feelings of hope and hopelessness can play a significant role in how they perceive their quality of life and quality of dying [1,2,3]
Introduction published maps and institutional affilIn palliative care, the way patients balance feelings of hope and hopelessness can play a significant role in how they perceive their quality of life and quality of dying [1,2,3]
The major themes and subthemes identified in the interviews suggest that, for family dyads, hope is an inner attribute at the very core of a human being, always present, albeit in varying strengths, depending on factors such as uncontrolled symptoms, feelings of anguish, or poor communication with clinicians
Summary
The way patients balance feelings of hope and hopelessness can play a significant role in how they perceive their quality of life and quality of dying [1,2,3]. Hope is an action with several dimensions, including cognitive, behavioural, and affiliative, which are influenced by an individual’s context and perspective of time [1]. More than any other mental state, hope is a balance between cognition and emotion, strongly oriented towards the future and the expectation of positive outcomes [4,5]. Previous studies suggest that sustaining hope can have a positive impact on patient outcomes, such as quality of life [6,7,8,9]. Hope can be an important facilitator to cope with difficult situations and is associated with finding meaning through inner iations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
