Comprehension and acceptance of the Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy with a Puerto Rican patient diagnosed with advanced cancer: A case study.

BACKGROUND: Meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP) is a structured psychotherapeutic intervention that aims to improve existential and spiritual well-being in patients with advanced cancer. To validate it, several efficacy studies with predominantly non-Hispanic white patients have been done. Puerto Ricans residing on the island are a largely overlooked segment of the US Latinx population. They have a strong national identity and are embedded in a collectivist culture which shares the Spanish language, cultural traditions, and an emphasis on familism, a cultural factor that values the role of the family in ensuring the well-being of its members. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to present a case study focused on a Puerto Rican advanced cancer patient who underwent MCP to assess the comprehension and acceptance of the MCP intervention. METHOD: We used a mixed-methods study design that included the taking of ethnographic notes, and pre- and post-test assessments of the scores the patient received on all the measures (using validated scales). The ethnographic notes were analyzed to determine the participant's comprehension and acceptance of the MCP intervention. Content analysis was performed on the ethnographic notes by three independent coders using a deductive coding approach. Pre- and post-interview assessments were conducted to explore changes in distress, spiritual well-being, and self-perceived quality of life. RESULTS: A Latino patient with stage III cancer, low income, and low literacy skills showed low comprehension of the concepts of meaning, the finite, legacy, and moderate comprehension and acceptance of the concepts of the search for hope, purpose in life, connecting with life, courage, life's limitations, and sources of meaning. However, the patient showed high comprehension of death and dying (i.e., meaningful death). The patient showed low acceptance of death and dying concepts and high acceptance of the integration of family members into the therapy. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Additional studies are needed to address cultural themes and to improve the comprehensibility and acceptance of the manual's content and the central MCP concepts. The findings suggest that MCP has the potential of being a feasible form of psychotherapy for Latinx patients suffering from distress, low spiritual well-being, and low self-perceived QOL.

[Behavioral Medicine, Health Psychology and Psycho-oncology Puerto Rican Graduated Students Research Training Needs]. / Necesidades de Adiestramiento de Investigación en Medicina Conductual, Psicología de la Salud y Psico-oncología en Estudiantes Graduados en Puerto Rico.

In Puerto Rico, during the period 1990 to 2010, the incidence of all types of cancer had a statistically significant gradual increase of a rate of 0.3% per year. Similarly there was an increase in survival rates of 1% to 2%. This meant an increase in the demand for integrated services given its importance and its role in the survival process. Currently the treatment for the cancer condition is more specialized and complex. Hence, there is a great need to train qualified professionals to address the psychosocial needs of cancer patients and survivors. However, in Puerto Rico, training resources in psycho-oncology are scarce. A total of 113 graduate students participated in an online survey about research training needs. The results suggest that this is the first study in documenting these needs. The results demonstrate a high level of interest in clinical practice and research in psycho-oncology (80.2%, n = 81), but there is poor general knowledge and opportunities in specialized training (13.6%, n = 14) for students interested in the field of psycho-oncology. These results demonstrate the need to create new training opportunities in the area of psycho-oncology.