title: The effect of palliative daycare on hope: a comparison of daycare patients with two control groups.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite expansion in palliative daycare services, research has not demonstrated an improvement in patient outcomes. This study aimed to determine the effect of palliative daycare on hope.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study that compared three groups of patients: a daycare group and two control groups, one recruited before daycare opened and a matched comparison group. Patients were interviewed at baseline and at two follow-ups using the Herth Hope Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 22 daycare patients completed a baseline interview (T1); 12 a second (T2); and 9 a third (T3). Corresponding numbers were: before group (56, 34, 24) and matched group (49, 29, 19). An independent samples t-test confirmed a significant difference between the groups from T1 to T2 (mean difference=3.20, p=0.007), with the daycare group experiencing an increase in hope not seen in the other groups. However, this was not maintained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daycare may effect an initial improvement in hope. The study suffered from attrition and the sample was small. Further robust evaluation of daycare is needed.
authors.affiliation: Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey, UK GU9 8BL. margaret.guy@pth.org.uk
authors.forename: Margaret P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: Irene J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Higginson
authors.forename: Brendan D W
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Amesbury
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D010166:Palliative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies