Patient-reported hope and its predicting factors in malignant and non-malignant chronic illness: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Hope is important to patients with a life-limiting illness. Identifying factors that influence hope is important. However, little research has been undertaken to understand patient-reported hope in malignant and non-malignant chronic disease.

Aim: This research aimed to determine hope level and its influencing factors in patients with malignant and non-malignant illness in advanced stages.

Methods: A total of 155 patients with malignant and non-malignant illness participated in this cross-sectional study. Data was collected on sociodemographic, disease characteristics and measures of hope. Hope was assessed using the validated Herth Hope Index (HHI). Multiple linear regression models were used to determine associations of identified factors with the patient's level of hope. This paper adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.

Findings: A total of 155 patients were enrolled (mean age=54.4±10.97 years, 60% female and 54.8.% were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and the mean duration of illness was 35.61±3.192 months. Patients had an average HHI score of 35.52 (range 26-46), were in the medium range of the HHI as specified by Herth to be 24-35. Patients who were younger and had completed higher education had a higher level of hope. These variables explained a total of 11.6% of the variation in hope.

Conclusions: The level of hope was not optimal, and still needs to be improved further. Thus, nurses and other healthcare professionals should pay special attention to older patients, patients with a low-education level and support them to have a positive attitude.