Hope in the context of life-threatening illness and the end of life

Recent research shows the importance of hope in the context of life-threatening illness and the end of life for patients and their families. While some patients and family members continue to hope for a cure or extending life, others may develop more complex hopes related to quality of life and making the most of the time left. Clinicians often worry about taking hope away with bad news about the patient's prognosis, but patients and family members often appreciate honesty without losing hope. Clinicians should recognize that hopes in the context of serious, progressive illness may be complex, contradictory, culturally based, and evolve over time. Recent interventions have been developed to support hope for these patients, caregivers, and parents. •Hope is important in the context of life-threatening illness and end of life.•Patients and families appreciate honesty without losing hope.•Many clinicians worry about taking hope away from patients and families.•Patients and families have complex hopes beyond a cure and extending life.•Interventions have been developed to support hope among patients and caregivers.