Koopmeiners L, Post-White J, Gutknecht S, Ceronsky C, Nickelson K, Drew D, Mackey KW, Kreitzer MJ. How healthcare professionals contribute to hope in patients with cancer.
Oncol Nurs Forum 1997;
24:1507-13. [PMID:
9348591]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To explore whether healthcare professionals influence the level of hope in patients with cancer and, if so, how they influence their hope.
DESIGN
Descriptive, qualitative design.
SETTING
An adult hematology/oncology unit in the upper midwestern United States.
SAMPLE
Thirty-two men and women receiving active or supportive treatment or palliative care for cancer.
METHODS
Semistructured interviews conducted in the participants' hospital rooms. Ten investigators and two consultants transcribed and analyzed the interview data using content analysis. They identified themes and subthemes that described healthcare professionals' roles.
MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
Healthcare professionals' contributions to hope as described by patients with cancer.
FINDINGS
Healthcare professionals positively and negatively influenced hope in this sample. Hope was facilitated by being present, giving information, and demonstrating caring behaviors. Negative influences on hope primarily concerned the way in which healthcare professionals gave information.
CONCLUSION
Healthcare professionals do influence patients' perceptions of their hope. Although most nursing actions are hope enhancing, nurses can reduce a patient's sense of hope if information provided or attitude toward the patient is insensitive or disrespectful.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE
Nurses can increase patients' hope by being present, taking time to talk, and being helpful. They must provide information and answer questions in a compassionate, positive, honest, and respectful manner. Caring behaviors such as thoughtful gestures, showing warmth and genuineness, and being friendly and polite also increase patients' hope.
Collapse