Susan Bluck1, Emily L Mroz1, Diana J Wilkie2, Linda Emanuel3, George Handzo4, George Fitchett5, Harvey Max Chochinov6,7, Carma L Bylund8,9. 1. Department of Psychology, 3463University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. 2. Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, 3463University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. 3. Division of General Internal Medicine, 3270Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. 4. 101595Health Care Chaplaincy Network, NY, USA. 5. Department of Religion, Health and Human Values, 2468Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. 6. Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology CancerCare Manitoba, , Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 7. Department of Psychiatry, 8664University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 8. College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. 9. College of Medicine, 3463University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nearly 500,000 older Americans die a cancer-related death annually. Best practices for seriously ill patients include palliative care that aids in promoting personal dignity. Dignity Therapy is an internationally recognized therapeutic intervention designed to enhance dignity for the seriously ill. Theoretically, Dignity Therapy provides opportunity for patients to make meaning by contextualizing their illness within their larger life story. The extent to which Dignity Therapy actually elicits meaning-making from patients, however, has not been tested. AIM: The current study examines (i) extent of patient meaning-making during Dignity Therapy, and (ii) whether baseline psychospiritual distress relates to subsequent meaning-making during Dignity Therapy. DESIGN: Participants completed baseline self-report measures of psychospiritual distress (i.e., dignity-related distress, spiritual distress, quality of life), before participating in Dignity Therapy. Narrative analysis identified the extent of meaning-making during Dignity Therapy sessions. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five outpatients (M age = 63, SD = 5.72) with late-stage cancer and moderate cancer-related symptoms were recruited. RESULTS: Narrative analysis revealed all patients made meaning during Dignity Therapy but there was wide variation (i.e., 1-12 occurrences). Patients who made greater meaning were those who, at baseline, reported significantly higher psychospiritual distress, including greater dignity-related distress (r = .46), greater spiritual distress (r = .44), and lower quality of life (r = -.56). CONCLUSION: Meaning-making was found to be a central component of Dignity Therapy. Particularly, patients experiencing greater distress in facing their illness use the Dignity Therapy session to express how they have made meaning in their lives.
BACKGROUND: Nearly 500,000 older Americans die a cancer-related death annually. Best practices for seriously ill patients include palliative care that aids in promoting personal dignity. Dignity Therapy is an internationally recognized therapeutic intervention designed to enhance dignity for the seriously ill. Theoretically, Dignity Therapy provides opportunity for patients to make meaning by contextualizing their illness within their larger life story. The extent to which Dignity Therapy actually elicits meaning-making from patients, however, has not been tested. AIM: The current study examines (i) extent of patient meaning-making during Dignity Therapy, and (ii) whether baseline psychospiritual distress relates to subsequent meaning-making during Dignity Therapy. DESIGN: Participants completed baseline self-report measures of psychospiritual distress (i.e., dignity-related distress, spiritual distress, quality of life), before participating in Dignity Therapy. Narrative analysis identified the extent of meaning-making during Dignity Therapy sessions. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five outpatients (M age = 63, SD = 5.72) with late-stage cancer and moderate cancer-related symptoms were recruited. RESULTS: Narrative analysis revealed all patients made meaning during Dignity Therapy but there was wide variation (i.e., 1-12 occurrences). Patients who made greater meaning were those who, at baseline, reported significantly higher psychospiritual distress, including greater dignity-related distress (r = .46), greater spiritual distress (r = .44), and lower quality of life (r = -.56). CONCLUSION: Meaning-making was found to be a central component of Dignity Therapy. Particularly, patients experiencing greater distress in facing their illness use the Dignity Therapy session to express how they have made meaning in their lives.
Entities:
Keywords:
dignity; life story; narrative analysis; palliative care; spiritual distress
Authors: Kate C McLean; Moin Syed; Monisha Pasupathi; Jonathan M Adler; William L Dunlop; David Drustrup; Robyn Fivush; Matthew E Graci; Jennifer P Lilgendahl; Jennifer Lodi-Smith; Dan P McAdams; Tara P McCoy Journal: J Pers Soc Psychol Date: 2019-04-18
Authors: Ana Cláudia Mesquita; Érika de Cássia Lopes Chaves; Guilherme Antônio Moreira de Barros Journal: Curr Opin Support Palliat Care Date: 2017-12 Impact factor: 2.302
Authors: William Breitbart; Hayley Pessin; Barry Rosenfeld; Allison J Applebaum; Wendy G Lichtenthal; Yuelin Li; Rebecca M Saracino; Allison M Marziliano; Melissa Masterson; Kristen Tobias; Natalie Fenn Journal: Cancer Date: 2018-05-14 Impact factor: 6.860