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The level of and relation between hope, hopelessness and fatigue in patients and family members in palliative care

Department of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Kalmar University, Kalmar

Agneta C Berg

Department of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad

Hope, hopelessness and fatigue are important experiences for patients and family members in palliative care. The aim of the study was to describe the level of and relation between hope, hopelessness and fatigue in patients and family members in palliative care. Eighty-five participants completed the Herth Hope Index, Beck's Hopelessness Scale and rated their level of fatigue from none to severe. The level of hope proved to be significantly lower among the family members than among the patients. For the family members, correlations were found between hope and age (–0.358*), fatigue and hope (–0.439*), hopelessness and age (0.484**), age and fatigue (0.403**) and between hope and hopelessness (–0.723**). For the patients, correlations were found between age and hopelessness (0.555**) and between hopelessness and hope (–0.580**). Efforts to increase the experience of hope and decrease hopelessness and fatigue must include not only the patient but also the family members. (*=P<0.5, **=P<0.01)

Key Words: family members • fatigue • Herth Hope Index • hope • hopelessness • terminal care

Palliative Medicine, Vol. 19, No. 3, 234-240 (2005)
DOI: 10.1191/0269216305pm1003oa


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