Finding a Place for Hope in the Management of Chronic Illness

Authors

  • Celia Robichaud
  • Christy Simpson

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15273/dmj.Vol40No1.3796

Abstract

The current concept of hope used by most of the existing literature and within health care is generally futureorientedand curative focused. This pervasive idea of ‘hope for a cure‘, though applicable to many illnesses, does notapply to patients with chronic, progressive, and debilitating diseases. In this paper, I present a detailed descriptionof the hope strategies employed by chronic illness sufferers, and how these differ from traditional ideas of hope.I also describe how hope may be negatively affected during clinical encounters with physicians and our currentsymptom rating tools. Suggestions for moving towards a supportive clinical environment are given, highlighting theimportance of finding hope, and health, within chronic illness.

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Published

2013-11-10

How to Cite

Robichaud, C., & Simpson, C. (2013). Finding a Place for Hope in the Management of Chronic Illness. DALHOUSIE MEDICAL JOURNAL, 40(1). https://doi.org/10.15273/dmj.Vol40No1.3796

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 1 (2013)

Section

Humanities

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