Generating hope in Pathway of Hope (POH) participants is a key factor for successful outcomes. Because hope is a spiritual component that undergirds the sense of faith to take difficult steps, increasing hope is an essential component for achieving and maintaining increased social functioning or change related to the motivating factors for seeking help.
One way to assess if the POH approach is making a difference in people’s lives is to measure their level of hope using a tool called the Herth Hope Index, a self-survey comprised of 12 questions developed by Kaye A. Herth, PhD, RN.
Clients complete the survey when beginning POH, then repeat it every three months and at the end of their participation. Scores range from 12 to 48 with higher scores reflecting higher levels of hope. The goal is for the levels of hope to increase during a client’s participation and be sustained afterward.
