ABSTRACT
Background: In positive psychology, increased recognition of the phenomenon of hope among people suffering from cancer, along with alleviating their negative mental states like anxiety, depression, and fear of death is evident and promising. The aim of the study was to explore the lived experience of hope in cancer patients. Materials: Qualitative phenomenological research approach was used. A semi-structured in-depth interview with open-ended questions was administered to explore the patient抯 hope related experiences during the journey of cancer. A purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of 10 participants for the study. The size of the sample was decided on the basis of literature for the interpretive phenomenological study. Results: Results revealed five major common themes related to hope during illness: (1) survival expectation; (2) will to live; (3) prognostic clarification; (4) positivity of health providers; and (5) recovery of other patients: A source of hopefulness. Conclusion: The lived experiences of cancer patients shows that hope is the positive expectation of survival, which is a source of motivation during their journey of illness. It also denotes goal setting behaviour. Thus, hope is the 搘ill to live� which is related to social support, positive communication with healthcare providers, and recovery of fellow patients.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To explore and collect data about ethno-botanical and ethno-medicinal uses of wild leguminous plants, growing in three tehsils of district Rajouri. Study Design: Data about the various wild leguminous plants growing in the study area was gathered from the local people with the help of a self designed questionnaire. Place and Duration of Study: Three tehsils (Nowshera, Sunderbani and Rajouri) of district Rajouri were visited for complete 2 year i.e. March 2012 to March 2014. Methodology: Periodic field trips were conducted in rural and mountainous areas of the study area. During these trips, personal interviews were conducted with locals of the study area. These included the nomads (Gujjars and Bakkarwals), livestock rears, elderly community members, traditional healers and practitioners. These people were specifically interviewed for the traditional knowledge about legumes. Results: A total of 51 species of family Fabaceae were collected from the study areas. These species cover an altitudinal gradient of 426-1015 masl and are known by different local names. Out of the 51enlisted legume species, only 43 were found to carry immense ethno-botanical and ethno-medicinal importance. Conclusion: Legumes are of huge importance to human beings. The plants species enlisted and studied in the present communication represent low priced and regionally available quality nutrition for the local people. Detailed work is needed on the same aspect that will further enhance our understanding about the medicinal and nutritional values of ethno-botanically and ethno-medicinally important plant species of the family Fabaceae.