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Maintaining Hope: Communication in Palliative Care

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Communication in Cancer Care

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 168))

5.7 Conclusions

From the wealth of literature available it appears important to express a note of hope when communicating information, news or healthcare plans to patients with cancer, or in fact any serious illness. Whereas in previous years withholding information to protect patients, and the belief that this would not diminish hope, was common practice, more recently truth telling has become the norm. Healthcare staff who are able to empathise and care—as well as providing hope, trust, interest and commitment—are important to patients and their families. This implies that two dimensions of hope should be considered: (a) “patient/family orientations to hope”, which involves needing to believe in a miracle and living parallel realities—that is, hoping for a cure or remission whilst at the same time realising the terminal nature of the illness; and (b) “messages from the healthcare providers supporting hope” by using words and approaches that leave the door open, retain professional honesty and respect alternative paths. It is the duty of those health professionals concerned to do what they can to help maintain hope, to promote holistic care, and to maximise physical, social, psychological, and spiritual health, in the true nature of cancer care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Primary Care, School of Population, Community and Behavioural Sciences, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GB, UK

    V. Kennedy BSc & M. Lloyd-Williams MD

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  1. V. Kennedy BSc
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  1. Médecin Chef de Service, Service de Psychiatrie de Liaison, CHUV, Rue du Bugnon 44, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Friedrich Stiefel MD

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Kennedy, V., Lloyd-Williams, M. (2006). Maintaining Hope: Communication in Palliative Care. In: Stiefel, F. (eds) Communication in Cancer Care. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 168. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-30758-3_5

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