Implementing Dignity Therapy Service into an Acute Cancer Care Setting - A Feasibility Study.
J Palliat Care
; 38(4): 456-464, 2023 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36740947
ABSTRACT
Objective:
Dignity therapy is a short-term psychotherapy used to help patients at end of life through addressing distress and enhancing dignity. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of introducing dignity therapy into a hospital-based cancer care service.Methods:
A feasibility study was undertaken using a randomised controlled trial design. Participants were adult patients receiving systemic treatment for cancer or haematological malignancy with palliative intent, within an Australian ambulatory cancer treatment centre. Outcomes of interest were patient distress levels and feasibility of intervention delivery. Participants completed two self-reported distress scales at recruitment and four weeks following (control group) or one month after intervention delivery (intervention group). Patients receiving the intervention also completed the dignity therapy patient feedback questionnaire. Feasibility was measured by collecting data on time required to implement the intervention with subsequent crude cost estimates calculated. Study procedures are reported according to CONSORT guidance.Results:
Fifteen patients were recruited for the study. Participants in the intervention group reported small but significantly different lower distress scores than those in the control group at 4 weeks. The time taken to deliver the intervention ranged from 5.5 to 11â h with subsequent cost dependent on the remuneration of the dignity therapy therapist.Conclusions:
Findings support other studies on the benefit to patients from delivering a dignity therapy intervention at end of life. Feasibility is influenced by multidisciplinary team support, resource availability and the designated therapist delivering the intervention. Larger sample sizes are needed to ascertain effect.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Terminal Care
/
Neoplasms
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Guideline
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
J Palliat Care
Journal subject:
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia