Definition Of Hope Research Articles

Nursing intervention to increase hope in cancer patients.

Hope is considered to be of great significance for people diagnosed as having cancer, and is thus an important aspect of nursing care. It is therefore of value to document ways in which hope can be strengthened in these patients. An intervention programme based on Nowotny's (1986) definition of hope and designed to increase hope in groups of cancer patients with the nurse as the group leader was developed. The intervention was divided into eight sessions, each of which focused on a different aspect of hope. These included: belief in oneself and one's own ability, emotional reactions, relationships with others, active involvement, spiritual beliefs and values, and acknowledging that there is a future. By focusing on these aspects through interactional processes in the group, it was thought that the participants' hope could be strengthened.

1396b Hope in cancer patients—an important issue

During the last years more and more people are diagnosed with cancer. Hope enables people to cope with difficult situations and suffering. Hope is frequently referred to as an important strategy in coping with a disease such as cancer, and as an important aspect in nursing care. The objectives of this paper are to (1) give a review of the importance ofhope for cancer patients and (2) suggest one type of nursing intervention that might strengthen the hope in cancer patients. The following six attributes are often stressed in definitions of hope: active involvement, the relationship to others, spiritual beliefs and faith, see that the future is possible, confidence and the affective dimension (comes from within). Based on this definition of hope an intervention program is made. This intervention is now evaluated in cancer patients.