A Care Program Based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring and its Effect on Death Anxiety and Hope for Life in Cancer Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Cancers are the second leading cause of death worldwide, adversely affecting patients' well-being including hope for life, and cause death anxiety.Aim: This study was conducted with aim to investigate the effect of a nursing care program based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring on death anxiety and hope for life in cancer patients.Method: This single-blind randomized  clinical trial was conducted on ۶۴ cancer patients who met the inclusion criteria at IranMehr Oncology Hospital of Birjand in ۲۰۲۴. Participants were divided into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group underwent an eight-week program based on Jean Watson's nursing theory including four stages, while the control group only received the routine nursing care. Data were collected using the validated and reliable Death Anxiety Scale and Adult Hope Scale and demographic and clinical data collection form. p<۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant.Results: There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the mean scores of death anxiety and hope for life before the study (p>۰.۰۵). However, after care based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring, statistically significant reduction was observed in the mean score of death anxiety and also an elevation in hope for life in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<۰.۰۵).Implications for Practice: Proper intervention in severely ill or poor prognosis patients provided by healthcare professionals can have a positive impact on patients' outcome and improve their quality of life.

کلیدواژه ها:

Anxiety ، Cancer ، Hope ، Nursing Practice ، terminal care