The effect of hope intervention on the anxiety, hope and symptom levels of patients in palliative care: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: One of the main aims of palliative care is the management of symptoms that disturb the person. There are very limited studies to determine the increase of hope through hope intervention and its effect on symptom levels.Objective: This study has been carried out to determine the effect of hope intervention on anxiety, hope, and symptom levels of patients under palliative care.Method: This research is a randomized controlled intervention study. The sample of the study consisted of 42 patients who were treated as inpatients in a palliative care center in Turkey. A "hope intervention program" (three consecutive days, three sessions) was implemented on the intervention group. Measurement tools were applied three times before the intervention, on the 8th day and on the 15th day after the intervention. The research data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Herth Hope Index, the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. The data were analyzed in the SPSS 25.0 program using independent sample t-tests, ANOVA in repeated measurements, Bonferroni Post-Hoc tests, chi-square tests, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis.Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the Herth Hope Index scores of the intervention group on the 8th and 15th day after intervention (p<.05), and patients in the control group had a higher hope level. A statistically significant difference was found between the anxiety score measurements of the patients in the intervention group before intervention, on the 8th day and 15th day (p<.05), however, no statistically significant difference was found between the anxiety scores of the intervention and control groups. No statistically significant difference was found between symptoms of nausea, anxiety, insomnia, and shortness of breath between the intervention and control groups.Conclusion: Hope intervention increased the hope status of patients receiving palliative care and reduced the level of anxiety. In palliative care, it is recommended to use hope intervention programs that support and contribute to the maintenance of hope.