Health professionals’ dealing with hope in palliative patients with cancer, an explorative qualitative research

Hope is important for individuals with cancer in palliative care. Health professionals’ perspective on hope affects the communication with palliative patients. The aim of this study was to explore how Dutch health professionals deal with palliative patients with cancer who hope for prolongation of life. Focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted. An interpretive description approach was used to understand the interpretation of and reaction to hopefulness in palliative patients with cancer by health professionals. Three FGDs were held, each consisting of five to ten health professionals working with palliative patients recruited in a general Dutch hospital and homecare organisation. The ways in which the participating health professionals interpret hope in palliative individuals with cancer and their behaviour towards these hopeful palliative patients are shaped by their reliance on their own normative ideas. Patients’ hopefulness generally violates these norms and is, therefore, considered a problem that requires intervention. Hope that does not correspond with the medical facts is experienced as problematic by Dutch health professionals who therefore believe they should intervene and do something about it. Health professionals are challenged to face and address patients’ and families’ perceptions of hope, especially when those perceptions might differ from their own as professionals.