The role of hope for health professionals in rehabilitation: A qualitative study on unfavorable prognosis communication.
BACKGROUND:The communication of prognosis represents an ethical and clinical challenge in medical practice due to the inherent uncertain character of prognostic projections. The literature has stressed that the mode of communicating prognoses has an impact on patients' hope, which is considered...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2019-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224394 |
| _version_ | 1818583356730769408 |
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| author | Mirjam Amati Nicola Grignoli Sara Rubinelli Julia Amann Claudia Zanini |
| author_facet | Mirjam Amati Nicola Grignoli Sara Rubinelli Julia Amann Claudia Zanini |
| author_sort | Mirjam Amati |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND:The communication of prognosis represents an ethical and clinical challenge in medical practice due to the inherent uncertain character of prognostic projections. The literature has stressed that the mode of communicating prognoses has an impact on patients' hope, which is considered to play a major role in adapting to illness and disability. In light of this, this study aims to explore health professionals' (HPs) perceptions of the role of hope in rehabilitation and to examine if and how they use strategies to maintain hope when discussing prognostic information with patients. METHODS:Eleven qualitative semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of HPs were conducted at two rehabilitation clinics in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS:The HPs perceive hope in rehabilitation as a double-edged sword. Three main strategies were identified to maintain hope while avoiding false hope: 1) giving space for self-evaluation; 2) tailoring the communication of prognostic information; and 3) supporting the patient in dealing with the prognosis. These strategies are particularly suitable when HPs consider that patients might not be ready to accept the prognosis, due to their expectations for recovery. CONCLUSIONS:The strategies identified here support a person-centered approach to the communication of prognosis and are in line with existing protocols for the communication of unfavorable medical information. The findings emphasize the need for strengthening communication and inter-professional collaboration skills of rehabilitation HPs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:03:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bec4eebf8c5c40229c282fed6b37d2c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:03:59Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-bec4eebf8c5c40229c282fed6b37d2c32022-12-21T22:38:32ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-011410e022439410.1371/journal.pone.0224394The role of hope for health professionals in rehabilitation: A qualitative study on unfavorable prognosis communication.Mirjam AmatiNicola GrignoliSara RubinelliJulia AmannClaudia ZaniniBACKGROUND:The communication of prognosis represents an ethical and clinical challenge in medical practice due to the inherent uncertain character of prognostic projections. The literature has stressed that the mode of communicating prognoses has an impact on patients' hope, which is considered to play a major role in adapting to illness and disability. In light of this, this study aims to explore health professionals' (HPs) perceptions of the role of hope in rehabilitation and to examine if and how they use strategies to maintain hope when discussing prognostic information with patients. METHODS:Eleven qualitative semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of HPs were conducted at two rehabilitation clinics in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS:The HPs perceive hope in rehabilitation as a double-edged sword. Three main strategies were identified to maintain hope while avoiding false hope: 1) giving space for self-evaluation; 2) tailoring the communication of prognostic information; and 3) supporting the patient in dealing with the prognosis. These strategies are particularly suitable when HPs consider that patients might not be ready to accept the prognosis, due to their expectations for recovery. CONCLUSIONS:The strategies identified here support a person-centered approach to the communication of prognosis and are in line with existing protocols for the communication of unfavorable medical information. The findings emphasize the need for strengthening communication and inter-professional collaboration skills of rehabilitation HPs.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224394 |
| spellingShingle | Mirjam Amati Nicola Grignoli Sara Rubinelli Julia Amann Claudia Zanini The role of hope for health professionals in rehabilitation: A qualitative study on unfavorable prognosis communication. PLoS ONE |
| title | The role of hope for health professionals in rehabilitation: A qualitative study on unfavorable prognosis communication. |
| title_full | The role of hope for health professionals in rehabilitation: A qualitative study on unfavorable prognosis communication. |
| title_fullStr | The role of hope for health professionals in rehabilitation: A qualitative study on unfavorable prognosis communication. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of hope for health professionals in rehabilitation: A qualitative study on unfavorable prognosis communication. |
| title_short | The role of hope for health professionals in rehabilitation: A qualitative study on unfavorable prognosis communication. |
| title_sort | role of hope for health professionals in rehabilitation a qualitative study on unfavorable prognosis communication |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224394 |
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