title: A theory-based nursing intervention to instill hope in homeless veterans.
abstract: This quasi-experimental study sought to determine if a specific nursing intervention to instill hope would positively influence levels of hope, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and depression in homeless veterans. Miller's Model of Patient Power Resources served as the conceptual framework from which a middle-range theory of homelessness-hopelessness was derived to guide the study. Homeless veterans completed pretests on admission to a Veterans Affairs Medical Center, were randomly assigned to treatment or waiting control group, and completed posttests at the end of 4 weeks. There was support for the homelessness-hopelessness theory as evidenced by a high level of depression and low levels of hope, self-efficacy, and self-esteem among these homeless veterans. Further support for the theory was seen in the increased levels of hope and self-esteem and decreased depression in veterans who received the nursing intervention. Treatment and control groups differed significantly with regard to hope at posttest.
authors.affiliation: Homeless Veterans Service, US Department of Veterans Affairs Anchorage, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tollett
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000451:nursing; D004644:Emotions; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*