Hope language in patients undergoing epilepsy surgery

Abstract Candidates for epilepsy surgery often use the word “hope” to express their attitudes and beliefs about surgery. However, studies suggest that hope has a multiplicity of meanings that are not well understood. The goal of this analysis was to evaluate whether Candidates for epilepsy surgery u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epilepsy & behavior 2013-10, Vol.29 (1), p.90-95
Main Authors: Patton, D.J, Busch, R.M, Yee, K.M, Kubu, C.S, Gonzalez-Martinez, J, Ford, P.J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Communication
Discursive analysis
Epilepsy - psychology
Epilepsy - surgery
Ethics
Expectations
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Hope
Humans
Informed Consent
Language
Male
Middle Aged
Neurology
Neurosurgical Procedures - methods
Patient-centered care
Physician-Patient Relations
Qualitative research
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Candidates for epilepsy surgery often use the word “hope” to express their attitudes and beliefs about surgery. However, studies suggest that hope has a multiplicity of meanings that are not well understood. The goal of this analysis was to evaluate whether Candidates for epilepsy surgery use hope language to express a traditional, expected optimism during presurgery interviews. We examined patients' uses of the word “hope” and its derivatives (hoping, hopeful, hopefully) through a secondary analysis of 37 interviews of adult patients prior to epilepsy surgery. Approximately 1/3 of all hope statements were coded as expressions of optimism, while 1/3 were not optimistic, and 1/3 had unclear meanings. In addition to traditionally optimistic uses of the term, other themes surrounding use of this word included ideas of dread, worry, uncertainty, and temporizing language. This information may help clinicians communicate more effectively with patients, enhancing the informed consent process for epilepsy surgery.
ISSN:1525-5050
1525-5069
DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.07.005