Affiliation:
1. Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University , Jerusalem, Israel
2. Department of Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University , Santa Clara, CA, USA
Abstract
Abstract
In addition to the diverse educational materials the National Cancer Institute provides to patients, caregivers, and health-care professionals, the NCI maintains an online dictionary that provides concise definitions of terms used in modern oncology. The dictionary is regarded as a valuable data reserve because it is updated frequently and employs language that facilitates comprehension among lay users and professionals alike. In this commentary, we call attention to the absence of the word hope as an entry in this important digital resource. Moreover, we propose not only including the concept of hope in this vital reference text but also basing its meaning on C. R. Snyder’s model of “hope theory,” which stresses the importance of 3 entities: goals, pathways thinking, and agency. Finally, we argue that hope can be taught as a skill to relevant stakeholders (eg, patients, caregivers, and health-care professionals) through brief workshops that have recently been expanded from in-person encounters to virtual platforms revolving around a user-friendly mobile app called “Hopetimize.”
Funder
Pamm Gross Kahane Research Institute
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)