Staff Utilization of Explicit Hope Facilitation Strategies in Long Term Care

This qualitative research conference was excellent. The conference was opened with a keynote address by Dr. Jan Morse (a professor who is coming to AU convocation this year tor receive an honorary doctorate from Athabasca University for her contributions to health research. I attended several parallel sessions regarding qualitative research, primarily dealing with methodological issues (which is a particular interest for me at te current moment as I try to learn new methodological issues and challenges in qualitative research). These sessions are particularly of benefit to me because I currently teach three research courses in our Master of Nursing/Master of Health Studies Program. I have designed the Advanced Qualitative Research Course as well, so I am also interested in trying to discover what is new and cutting edge in this field. There was opportunities to meet and dialogue with colleagues from around the world (Australia, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Africa and the US). Approximately 30 people attended the session that I presented and there were a number of questions that were generated from the session that lead to fruitful discussion. It is quite exciting for me to see the applications of qualitative research that people are using in different areas of the world. I received a couple of emails following my presentation acknowledging people’s appreciation for the session. Another keynote presenter talked about qualitative research and dementia care and the closing keynote speaker Dr. Les Todres presented a very interested and philosophical paper about the importance of being with in research. This found particularly interesting as it was one of the themes that surfaced in my recent project in hope and long term care. It gave me a deeper understanding of how to use a theoretical framework for research.Research offers compelling evidence of the pivotal role that hope plays in health and personal well-being outcomes for individuals who are acutely, chronically or terminally ill. Many individuals who are living in long term care, experience chronic physical and mental health challenges that affect the quality of their lives. For many of these individuals, these health issues challenge their hope in the face of uncertain futures.There is evidence to show it is possible to foster hope in individuals who feel hopeless or whose hope has been challenged, and that having a sense of hope greatly increases their sense of meaning and purpose in life. The purpose of this study is to intentionalize health care staffs’ use of explicit hope facilitating strategies with residents who are living in long term care facilities. Aims: • develop heightened awareness of health care staffs’ use of purposive hope facilitation strategies in long term care • strengthen staff resolve to purposively engage in hope promotion strategies with their residents • normalize explicit hope facilitation as a vital component of care Method: An educational workshop was used to teach staff specific hope-focused strategies for working with residents in long term care. Participating staff were interviewed prior to the workshop to ascertain their knowledge and understanding about hope. Following the workshop, the researcher spent some time in the clinical area to observe the health care staff practice and identify through observation and conversation with each staff member, specific incidents of intentional use of hope strategies in their practice. Selected residents were also interviewed regarding their feelings/experiences related to use of hope. Results: Researcher is finishing data collection phase and will report the results at the conference.Academic & Professional Development Fund (A&PDF