title: Keeping hope possible: a grounded theory study of the hope experience of parental caregivers who have children in treatment for cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hope has been found to support parents as they care for their child with a life-limiting or life-threatening illness. However, very little research focuses on the nursing care of parents of pediatric oncology patients, and therefore, nurses may have difficulty in understanding and supporting parental well-being.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of the experience of hope for parents who care for their child in treatment for cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using purposive theoretical sampling, 16 parents participated in this study. Thirty-three open-ended, face-to-face interviews were conducted, and 14 parent journals were collected. Analysis of the data was conducted using Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A developing, substantive grounded theory was constructed. Parental hope was described as an essential, powerful, deliberate, life-sustaining, dynamic, cyclical process that was anchored in time; was calming and strengthening; and provided inner guidance through the challenging experience of preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. Parents' main concern was "fearing the loss of hope," which was ameliorated by the basic social process of "keeping hope possible" through accepting reality, establishing control, restructuring hope, and purposive positive thinking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents journeyed through numerous transitions related to the treatment of cancer that caused feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, stress, and loss of control. Hope was identified as vital to parents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To minimize these adverse experiences, nurses can support parents' ability to keep hope possible and thus to optimize their well-being by understanding, assessing, and supporting parental hope.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (Drs Bally, Holtslander, Spurr, and Wright); Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton (Dr Duggleby); Saskatoon Cancer Centre and University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (Dr Mpofu); and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario (Dr Thomas), Canada.
authors.forename: Jill M G
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bally
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Duggleby
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holtslander
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mpofu
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spurr
authors.forename: Roanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D066296:Grounded Theory; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires