Hoop in palliatieve zorg

Summary

Hope in palliative care
Erik Olsman

Introduction: Hope is important for palliative care patients and their family. However, the phenomenon of hope is elusive and sometimes healthcare professionals experience ethical dilemmas in relation to hope. The objective of this study was to provide insight into hope in palliative care and to offer healthcare professionals possibilities for moral reflection and com munication.
Method: The researchers conducted 1) a literature synthesis, 2) semistructured interviews with palliative care patients, their family members and their healthcare professionals and 3) a pilot study evaluating the feasibility of a hope communication tool.
Results: The literature synthesis found three perspectives on hope: a realistic, functional and narrative perspective on hope. The metaphor analysis of interviews with healthcare professionals revealed four metaphors of hope, in which hope was a grip, source, tune or vision. The semistructured interviews with patients led to the finding that changes of hope, despair and hopelessness over time could be best understood as singing voices in a choir: the three concepts may alternate, sing together or dominate one another. In addition, based on the interviews with all participants, we described that a relational ethics of hope consists of solicitude, in which healthcare professionals are able to be empowering and compassionate. The last study concluded that the hope communication tool helped healthcare professionals to reach depth during their conversations with patients.
Conclusion: The findings may support healthcare professionals in their moral reflection and they offer practical suggestions, helping healthcare professionals to improve their communication with palliative care patients and patients’ family.