Hope in Palliative Care: A Thematic Analysis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2022
Abstract
Background: Hope is a positive coping mechanism that is important at all stages of illness, more so for palliative care patients. Purpose: To explore the experiences of hope of palliative care patients. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted at University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Adult palliative care in-patients were recruited and interviewed with semi structured questions on hope. Transcripts from the interviews were thematically analyzed with qualitative data management software NVIVO. Findings: 20 palliative care patients participated in the study. The themes generated from thematic analysis were (1) The notions of hope, (2) The sources and barriers of hope and (3) The contents of hope. Conclusion: Hope is an ever-present source of energy that gives people strength to carry on even in the most adverse situations. Understanding hope from the palliative care perspective may allow healthcare providers to develop strategies to better foster hope in the terminally ill.
Keywords
hope, palliative care, terminally ill, psychosocial care, thematic analysis
Divisions
medicinedept,psychological
Funders
None
Publication Title
Journal of Palliative Care
Volume
37
Issue
2
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Publisher Location
2455 TELLER RD, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91320 USA