title: The nature of hope among Iranian cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hope is an important coping resource for cancer patients. Types and sources of hope and hope- inspiring strategies are not well investigated among Iranian cancer patients. The aims of present study were therefore to investigate the nature of hope and some demographic predictors of hope among Iranian cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive-correlational study was undertaken among 200 cancer patients admitted to an educational center affiliated to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. The Herth Hope Index and other validated questionnaires were used to investigate level of hope and types and sources of hope, as well as hope-inspiring strategies. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall score for hope was 31 from total scores ranging between 12 and 48. Some 94% of patients mentioned 'return to normal life' and 'complete healing of disease by drugs and physicians' as their main hopes. The most important sources of hope reported by patients include spiritual resources, family members, healthcare workers, and medicines and treatments available for the disease. Relationship with God, praying/blessing, controlling the signs and symptoms of the disease, and family/health care workers' support were the main hope-inspiring strategies. Patients who had a history of metastasis, or who were older, illiterate, divorced/widowed and lived with their children reported lower levels of hope. On the other hand, employed patients and those with good support from their families had higher levels of hope.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study findings showed moderate to high levels of hope among Iranian cancer patients. Accordingly, the role of spiritual/religion, family members and health care workers should be considered in developing care plans for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Medical Surgical Department, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran E-mail : azad.rahmani@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rashed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Afrooz
authors.forename: Azad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zamanzadeh
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abdullahzadeh
authors.forename: Arman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azadi
authors.forename: Safieh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faghany
authors.forename: Asgar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pirzadeh
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires