An Analysis of the Concept of Hope in the Adolescent With Cancer

Abstract

Nursing application of the concept of hope in the pediatric oncology clinical setting is currently in its infancy. This article presents a systematic analysis of the concept of hope for use by the pediatric oncology nurse in the care of the pediatric adolescent oncology patient. The literature review addresses health and illness states as areas significant to the analysis and application of hope. This article defines critical attributes, antecedents, and consequences of hope; constructs case examples (a model, a borderline, and contrary cases); includes an operational definition of adolescent hopefulness; and summarizes empirical referents of hope. Through clinical assessment of hope in the pediatric adolescent oncology patient and ongoing research of hope in this population, evaluation of the potential benefits of hope to this population's adaptation to varying health states will be further demonstrated.