Eva Benzein

The meaning of the lived experience of hope in patients with cancer in palliative home care

The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of the lived experience of hope in patients with cancer in palliative home care. Narrative interviews with 11 patients were interpreted using a phenomenological–hermeneutic method, inspired by Ricoeur. The findings revealed a tension between hoping for something, that is a hope of getting cured, and living in hope, that is reconciliation and comfort with life and death. This tension is highlighted, according to the views of the French philosopher Gabriel Marcel, as a state of ‘recollection’. The interviewees told of the hope of living as normally as possible and of the experience of confirmative relationships as dimensions of their lived experience of hope. These findings show that hope is a dynamic experience, important to both a meaningful life and a dignified death, for those patients suffering from incurable cancer.

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

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, Becks 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)

One step towards the understanding of hope: a concept analysis

Hope is an essential concept in nursing which has not been satisfactorily explored. The purpose of this article is to elucidate the concept of hope, using a technique of concept analysis described by Walker and Avant (1995). The critical attributes revealed were; future-orientation, positive expectation, intentionality, activity, realism, goal-setting, and inter-connectedness. Various illustrative cases are presented as well as antecedents and outcomes. The discussion highlights some critical aspects of the method used and the results of this analysis may serve as a guide for further empirical research. In order to grasp the true nature of hope, complementary research studies employing a variety of methodological approaches are needed.

Reasons for non-attendance at cervical screening as reported by non.attendees in Sweden

Purpose. To describe reasons for non-attendance at cervical screening, as reported by non-attendees, in Sweden. Methods. Four hundred women were randomized from a population-based register, of which 133 non-attendees answered the Cervical Screening Questionnaire (CSQ) in telephone interviews. Pearsons Chi2 and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to analyze differences between groups. Logistic regression was used to study the relationship between explanatory variables and a binary response variable. Results. The most common reasons for non-attendance were: feeling healthy, lack of time, and feelings of discomfort with the gynecologic examination. Non-attendees, who reported non-attendance due to experiences of discomfort associated with the gynecologic examination, estimated great discomfort at their latest examination. A history of sexual abuse was reported by 16.5%, but there were no differences regarding non-attendance due to experiences of discomfort associated with the gynecologic examination, between non-attendees who had no history of sexual abuse and those who had. Conclusion. It seems as though non-attendees did not attend cervical screening as they felt healthy, and thereby did not give time to preventive efforts. Earlier negative experiences such as discomfort during earlier gynecologic examinations seem to guide their decision not to attend.

'I do not need to... I do not want to... I do not give it priority... : why women choose not to attend cervical cancer screening

Objective To describe and interpret why women with no cervical smear taken during the previous 5 years choose not to attend a cervical cancer screening (CCS) programme.

The Meaning of Hope in Healthy, Nonreligious Swedes

This study aims to illuminate the meaning of the lived experience of hope as narrated by healthy Swedish adults, who considered themselves as nonreligious. Twenty-four interviewees were asked to narrate their experience of hope. A phenomenological-hermeneutical analysis was performed and the meaning of the lived experience of hope was interpreted as an internal process (i.e., hope related to being), which is linked to the experience of meaning and the awareness of one’s possibilities in life. This awareness releases energy and activates thoughts and feelings, enabling the person to make good and meaningful choices. The process generates a sense of independence, freedom, and inner peace. Hope related to being is a prerequisite for an external process (i.e., setting goals). Setting goals comprises action and the expectation of a positive outcome. Hope related to doing nurtures hope related to being. The findings also revealed that hope related to doing is reconstructed throughout the life process.

It is always on my mind : women's experiences of their bodies when living with hirsutism

Many women suffer from excessive hair growth, often in combination with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It is unclear how hirsutism influences such womens experiences of their bodies. Our aim is to describe and interpret womens experiences of their bodies when living with hirsutism. Interviews were conducted with 10 women with hirsutism. We used a qualitative latent content analysis. Four closely intertwined themes were disclosed: the body was experienced as a yoke, a freak, a disgrace, and as a prison. Hirsutism deeply affects womens experiences of their bodies in a negative way.

Family adaptation in relation to a family member's stay in ICU.

OBJECTIVES To describe and interpret the family adaptation during the ICU hospitalisation and up to 18 months after discharge. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY/DESIGN A qualitative design was chosen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Individual and family interviews with eight families including 31 family members. A hermeneutical analysis was performed and paradigm cases were constructed. RESULTS The result is presented in three themes: striving for endurance, striving for consolation and striving to rebuild life under new conditions. The family adaptation started at the onset of the critical incident and continued during the ICU stay and after discharge. The family members metaphorically went through peaks and valleys during the whole process of adaptation. CONCLUSION Adaptation is an issue for the whole family and is facilitated by being able to stay close to the patient and receive supportive unambiguous information from the staff both during the ICU stay and after discharge.

Women's Experiences of Pelvic Examination: An Interview Study

This qualitative study was designed to explore womens experiences when undergoing pelvic examination (PE). Earlier studies have shown that women are positive to the PE in general, but when describing the specific parts of the procedure, negative terms are used, for example, fear, pain, feelings of humiliation and embarrassment. Data were collected by tape-recorded narrative interviews, with six women aged 20–47 years, who had undergone several PE. A qualitative content analysis was used and three main themes were revealed: the experience of being exposed, the experience of having a trusting relationship with the examiner and the experience of a comforting environment. The findings revealed that it was not only the PE that affected the women, but also the relationship to the examiner. The experience of being exposed could be decreased by, for example, separating the body from the person, being able to relax and by having a trusting relationship with the examiner. The women appreciated having a homelike environment in the outpatient clinic. If women are met and confirmed in accordance with these findings, the examination may be an event without negative experiences for them.

Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale and Rewards of Caregiving Scale in a sample of Swedish family members of patients with life-threatening illness

Background: Family members often take on many caring responsibilities, with complex issues and challenges to consider. Feelings of preparedness, competence and reward are identified as concepts that may protect caregiver wellbeing and decrease negative outcomes related to caregiving. Aim: This study aimed to translate, adapt and psychometrically evaluate the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale and Rewards of Caregiving Scale in Swedish family members of patients with life threatening illness. Design: Correlational. Setting/participants: The study took place in four settings including advanced palliative care. The scales were tested in a sample of 125 family members of persons with life-threatening illness. All three scales were tested in relation to distribution of item and scale scores, missing data patterns, dimensionality, convergent validity and reliability. Results: The results in this study indicate that the Swedish versions of The Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale and Rewards of Caregiving Scale are valid, reliable and user-friendly scales. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scales were unidimensional and all demonstrated Cronbach’s alpha values of ≥0.9. Conclusions: As a result of this study it is anticipated that the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale and Rewards of Caregiving Scale could provide a basis for collaborative research between different countries and make international studies more comparable and generalizable despite differences in language and culture.