Elderly palliative care cancer patients' descriptions of hope-fostering strategies.
The purpose of this study was to describe perceptions of hope-fostering strategies of elderly patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative home care. Using a qualitative thematic research design, saturation was reached with 10 palliative home care patients (mean age 75 years) (five males and five females). Face-to-face audiotaped interviews were conducted in the participants' homes. Participants described hope for: "not suffering more", "living life to the fullest in the little time I have left", a peaceful death, life after death and "hope for a better life in the future" for their family. Using Lubrosky's thematic analysis, themes of fostering their hope were: leaving a legacy, achieving short-term goals, "turn your mind off", supportive family and friends, symbols of hope, positive thoughts, honest information and symptom control.
Duggleby
Wendy
W
University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada. duggleby@sask.usask.ca
Wright
Karen
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009013:Morale; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care; D012525:Saskatchewan