Conceptualizing hope in the presence of terminal illness: A qualitative analysis.

摘要

The study used a basic interpretive design to explore how hope changes throughout illness. The goal of the study was to assess the applicability of Snyder's hope theory in the terminally ill hospice patient's conceptualization of hope. Through constant comparative analysis, the data was categorized into patterns and properties, which lead to five broad themes: hope for the dying process, hopes for day-to-day life, family-related hopes, hopes regarding spirituality, and hope of leaving a legacy. The convenience sample of individuals (N = 5) was drawn from patients receiving services through a community hospice care facility. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and input into Atlas ti. The information gathered offers an understanding of the how terminally ill hospice patients conceptualize hope, thus beginning to bridge the gap in the literature. Through gaining an understanding of how terminally ill hospice patients conceptualize hope, mental health providers can explore hope content areas in assessments and develop ways in which to assist patients in continuing to foster hope through out the dying process. Furthermore, the data in the present study reflect a consistency with Snyder's basic tenets of hope theory, which include a cyclical relationship between goals, pathway thinking, and agency thinking.