title: Health-care professionals' perspective on hope in the palliative care setting.
abstract: Hope is considered a coping strategy as well as a factor that enhances quality of life for patients with advanced cancer. Most studies on the meaning of hope are from the patients' perspective. However, the health-care professionals' view is also important since it may affect their practice. This study explored the meaning of hope to patients with advanced cancer from health-care professionals' perspective. This was a qualitative study that used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Five focus group interviews were conducted with 23 participants including physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, chaplains, and a physiotherapist working in the palliative care unit of a hospital in Hong Kong. Data analysis revealed four themes: expected hopelessness, a dynamic process of hope, hope-fostering strategies, and peace as the ultimate hope. It appears that health-care professionals' hopefulness contributes to the hopefulness of patients. Opportunities to reflect on their values, beliefs, and experience may help health-care professionals enhance their ability to foster hope in patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. hsemok@inet.polyu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.forename: Ka-po
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Wai-man
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Lai-ngor
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Kin-sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce