Operationalizing the coronary care patient's concept of hope
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Authors
Lahm, Marjorie
Advisor
Houghton, Florence M.
Issue Date
1986
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Thesis (M.S.)
Department
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to operationalize the coronary care patient's concept of hope. Analysis of 25 subjects' responses to an open interview format suggested that the sample's definition of hope revolved around five categories. These categories were: 1) theistic beliefs: 2) knowledge that they would not die, require surgery, or experience pain; 3) a wish not to die; 4) a wish to get better; and, 5) confidence that they would get better. Furthermore, significant differences in: 1) the sample's definition of hope: 2) the feelings associated with admission to the coronary care unit: and, 3) the factors that positively influenced the sample's level of hope were directly related to the subject's age.