BACKGROUND: Dignity Therapy is a brief, empirically supported, individualized psychotherapy designed to address legacy needs among patients at the end of life. To date, this psychotherapy has not been implemented in a "real-world" community-based hospice setting. This study was designed to offer information about the pragmatic aspects of implementing Dignity Therapy for patients receiving hospice care. METHOD: Twenty-seven patients completed Dignity Therapy as part of a clinical service newly offered at a community-based hospice. Referral and enrollment procedures, as well as the logistics of therapy implementation were monitored. Patients' legacy transcripts were also qualitatively analyzed to measure emergent themes. RESULTS: Patients were most commonly referred by social workers, and on average produced Dignity Therapy legacy transcripts approximately 3000 words/8 pages in length. The mean number of sessions spent with patients was 4, equating to an average of 380 minutes of clinician time per patient. Qualitative analyses revealed the most commonly discussed topics among patients were (in rank order): autobiographical information, love, lessons learned in life, defining roles in vocations or hobbies, accomplishments, character traits, unfinished business, hopes and dreams, catalysts, overcoming challenges, and guidance for others. DISCUSSION: This was the first study to implement Dignity Therapy in a community sample, with results highlighting the practical aspects of treatment as well as the most common themes discussed by clinical patients in a hospice setting. These findings provide useful data for clinicians or organizational leaders who may consider offering Dignity Therapy in their setting, and offer general insight regarding the legacy topics most frequently discussed by patients near the end of life.
BACKGROUND: Dignity Therapy is a brief, empirically supported, individualized psychotherapy designed to address legacy needs among patients at the end of life. To date, this psychotherapy has not been implemented in a "real-world" community-based hospice setting. This study was designed to offer information about the pragmatic aspects of implementing Dignity Therapy for patients receiving hospice care. METHOD: Twenty-seven patients completed Dignity Therapy as part of a clinical service newly offered at a community-based hospice. Referral and enrollment procedures, as well as the logistics of therapy implementation were monitored. Patients' legacy transcripts were also qualitatively analyzed to measure emergent themes. RESULTS:Patients were most commonly referred by social workers, and on average produced Dignity Therapy legacy transcripts approximately 3000 words/8 pages in length. The mean number of sessions spent with patients was 4, equating to an average of 380 minutes of clinician time per patient. Qualitative analyses revealed the most commonly discussed topics among patients were (in rank order): autobiographical information, love, lessons learned in life, defining roles in vocations or hobbies, accomplishments, character traits, unfinished business, hopes and dreams, catalysts, overcoming challenges, and guidance for others. DISCUSSION: This was the first study to implement Dignity Therapy in a community sample, with results highlighting the practical aspects of treatment as well as the most common themes discussed by clinical patients in a hospice setting. These findings provide useful data for clinicians or organizational leaders who may consider offering Dignity Therapy in their setting, and offer general insight regarding the legacy topics most frequently discussed by patients near the end of life.
Authors: Harvey Max Chochinov; Thomas Hack; Thomas Hassard; Linda J Kristjanson; Susan McClement; Mike Harlos Journal: Lancet Date: 2002 Dec 21-28 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Frank D Ferris; Heather M Balfour; Karen Bowen; Justine Farley; Marsha Hardwick; Claude Lamontagne; Marilyn Lundy; Ann Syme; Pamela J West Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2002-08 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Thomas F Hack; Susan E McClement; Harvey M Chochinov; Beverley J Cann; Thomas H Hassard; Linda J Kristjanson; Mike Harlos Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2010-07-06 Impact factor: 4.762
Authors: Harvey Max Chochinov; Thomas Hack; Thomas Hassard; Linda J Kristjanson; Susan McClement; Mike Harlos Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2005-08-20 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Susan McClement; Harvey Max Chochinov; Thomas Hack; Thomas Hassard; Linda Joan Kristjanson; Mike Harlos Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2007-10 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Barry Rosenfeld; Rebecca Saracino; Kristen Tobias; Melissa Masterson; Hayley Pessin; Allison Applebaum; Robert Brescia; William Breitbart Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2016-07-21 Impact factor: 4.762
Authors: Lori P Montross; Emily A Meier; Kelly De Cervantes-Monteith; Vishal Vashistha; Scott A Irwin Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2013-08-12 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Jennifer Kim Bernat; Paul R Helft; Laura R Wilhelm; Nancy E Hook; Linda F Brown; Sandra K Althouse; Shelley A Johns Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2015-03-09 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Keith Zi Yuan Chua; Elaine Li Ying Quah; Yun Xue Lim; Chloe Keyi Goh; Jieyu Lim; Darius Wei Jun Wan; Simone Meiqi Ong; Chi Sum Chong; Kennan Zhi Guang Yeo; Laura Shih Hui Goh; Ray Meng See; Alexia Sze Inn Lee; Yun Ting Ong; Min Chiam; Eng Koon Ong; Jamie Xuelian Zhou; Crystal Lim; Simon Yew Kuang Ong; Lalit Krishna Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2022-07-04 Impact factor: 3.113
Authors: Adrienne Beck; Ann H Cottingham; Patrick V Stutz; Rachel Gruber; Jennifer K Bernat; Paul R Helft; Laura Wilhelm; Karen Schmidt; Madison E Stout; Claire Willard; Shelley A Johns Journal: Palliat Support Care Date: 2018-07-24
Authors: Lori P Montross-Thomas; Scott A Irwin; Emily A Meier; Jarred V Gallegos; Shahrokh Golshan; Eric Roeland; Helen McNeal; Diane Munson; Laura Rodseth Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2015-09-21 Impact factor: 3.234