The effect of palliative daycare on hope: a comparison of daycare patients with two control groups

Despite expansion in palliative daycare services, research has not demonstrated an improvement in patient outcomes. This study aimed to determine the effect of palliative daycare on hope. This was a prospective cohort study that compared three groups of patients: a daycare group and two control groups, one recruited before daycare opened and a matched comparison group. Patients were interviewed at baseline and at two follow-ups using the Herth Hope Index. In all, 22 daycare patients completed a baseline interview (T1); 12 a second (T2); and 9 a third (T3). Corresponding numbers were: before group (56, 34, 24) and matched group (49, 29, 19). An independent samples t-test confirmed a significant difference between the groups from T1 to T2 (mean difference=3.20, p=0.007), with the daycare group experiencing an increase in hope not seen in the other groups. However, this was not maintained. Daycare may effect an initial improvement in hope. The study suffered from attrition and the sample was small. Further robust evaluation of daycare is needed.