The Effects of Hope Intervention on the Hope and Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Staying at Home and Cared in Public Health Center

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the effects of hope intervention on the hope and quality of life of cancer patients staying at home. METHOD: The study adopted the randomized control group design. The subjects consisted of randomly selected forty cancer patients who were registered at S-Gu Public Health Center. Hope intervention which was composed of hope assessment, positive self identity formation, hope objective setting, therapeutic relationship and spiritual & transcendental process improving, and hope evaluation was provided from October 22, 2007 to November 30, 2007. RESULT: Hypothesis 1-1 "The experimental group that received hope intervention will have a higher score of hope than the control group", was supported(t=-3.108, p=.004). Hypothesis 1-2 "The experimental group that received hope intervention will have a higher level of hope index than the control group", was supported (t=-4.219, p=.000). Therefore, Hypothesis 1 "The experimental group that received hope intervention will have a higher level of hope than the control group" was supported. Hypothesis 2 "The experimental group that received hope intervention will have a higher level of quality of life than the control group", was not supported (t=-1.726, p=.092). CONCLUSION: Hope intervention is an effective nursing intervention to enhance hope for patients with cancer staying at home.