Table 1.
Relationship between the different patterns of ‘balancing between hope and despair’ and the other concepts of Preparative Waiting Theory
| Patterns of balancing between hope and despair | Seeking and giving information | Interpreting clues | Handling existential threat | Seeking respite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controlling pain | ||||
| Pain of uncertainty feltto a great extent | Wanting accurateinformation, not toomuch into discussionabout differentpossibilities | Work on making senseof all possible clues.Do not go into theworst scenarios | Feel the existentialthreat to a great extent.Try to pull themselvesback from going toomuch into it | Seek respite as it gives awelcome break fromthe painful time ofwaiting that gives restand renewed strength |
| Rational awaiting | ||||
| Focused on facts and noton hypotheticaloutcomes | Focus on facts, not onhypothetical outcomes | Work on clues to makethe best estimate oftheir situation | Nothing has changed.The existential threat isput on hold untilknowledge andconsequences aboutthe situation areknown | Seek respite because ithelps killing the timewhile waiting for theconclusion of themedical examination |
| Denial | ||||
| Focused onimprovements andoverlooked signs ofdanger | Information is notactively sought.Recognize thatsomething is wrong,and accept the need toknow the result to beable to get help | Focus on improvementsand all positive signs inthemselves. Comparethemselves with otherswho got well or whomanaged to live wellwith disease | To a limited extentgo into this | Seek respite actively as itoffers a welcome restfrom the bothersomethreat of uncertainty |
| Accepting | ||||
| Uncertainty wasbearable as there wasconfidence in enoughresources available tocope with the situation | Seek and want accurateand adjustedinformation | Work on making senseof all clues. Considerformer experiences ofcoping with difficultlife situations andcompare them with theactual situation | Experience the situationas less a threat as theyfind some rest inknowing there areresources available forthem in relation tothemselves, tosignificant others, andto God | Need less respite as theemotional pain ofuncertainty is bearable |