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Fitchett G, Yao Y, Emanuel LL, Guay MOD, Handzo G, Hauser J, Kittelson S, O'Mahony S, Quest T, Rabow M, Schoppee TM, Solomon S, Wilkie DJ, Chochinov HM. Examining Moderation of Dignity Therapy Effects by Symptom Burden or Religious/Spiritual Struggles. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 67:e333-e340. [PMID: 38215893 PMCID: PMC10939845 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Dignity therapy (DT) is a well-researched psychotherapeutic intervention but it remains unclear whether symptom burden or religious/spiritual (R/S) struggles moderate DT outcomes. OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of symptom burden and R/S struggles on DT outcomes. METHODS This analysis was the secondary aim of a randomized controlled trial that employed a stepped-wedge design and included 579 participants with cancer, recruited from six sites across the United States. Participants were ages 55 years and older, 59% female, 22% race other than White, and receiving outpatient specialty palliative care. Outcome measures included the seven-item dignity impact scale (DIS), and QUAL-E subscales (preparation for death; life completion); distress measures were the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS-r) (symptom burden), and the Religious Spiritual Struggle Scale (RSS-14; R/S). RESULTS DT effects on DIS were significant for patients with both low (P = 0.03) and moderate/high symptom burden (P = 0.001). They were significant for patients with low (P = 0.004) but not high R/S struggle (P = 0.10). Moderation effects of symptom burden (P = 0.054) and R/S struggle (P = 0.52) on DIS were not significant. DT effects on preparation and completion were not significant, neither were the moderation effects of the two distress measures. CONCLUSION Neither baseline symptom burden nor R/S struggle significantly moderated the effect of DT on DIS in this sample. Further study is warranted including exploration of other moderation models and development of measures sensitive to effects of DT and other end-of-life psychotherapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Fitchett
- Department of Religion, Health and Human Values (G.F.), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
| | - Yingwei Yao
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing (Y.Y., T.M.S., D.J.W.), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Linda L Emanuel
- Department of Medicine (L.L.E., J.H.), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Mongan Institute (L.L.E.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marvin O Delgado Guay
- Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine (M.O.D.G.), MD Anderson Cancer Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - George Handzo
- HealthCare Chaplaincy Network (G.H.), New York, New York, USA
| | - Joshua Hauser
- Department of Medicine (L.L.E., J.H.), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (J.H.), Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sheri Kittelson
- Department of Medicine (S.K.), University of Florida; Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Sean O'Mahony
- Department of Medicine (S.M.), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Tammie Quest
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (T.Q.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael Rabow
- Department of Medicine (M.R.), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Tasha M Schoppee
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing (Y.Y., T.M.S., D.J.W.), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Community Hospice and Palliative Care (T.M.S.), Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Sheldon Solomon
- Department of Psychology (S.S.), Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, USA
| | - Diana J Wilkie
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing (Y.Y., T.M.S., D.J.W.), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Harvey Max Chochinov
- Department of Psychiatry and Cancer Care Manitoba Research Institute (H.M.C.), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Bogetz JF, Oslin E, O’Donnell M, Barton KS, Yi-Frazier JP, Watson RS, Rosenberg AR. Meaning-Making Among Parents of Children With Severe Neurologic Impairment in the PICU. Pediatrics 2024; 153:e2023064361. [PMID: 38529567 PMCID: PMC10979294 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-064361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Parents and family caregivers of children with severe neurologic impairment (SNI) experience many stressors, especially during their child's critical illness. This study aimed to examine parent experiences around the time of their child's PICU care to explore ways parents make meaning in relation to these stressors. METHODS This qualitative study of data from a single center in the United States followed Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. One to one semistructured interviews queried parents' psychosocial well-being around the time of their child's PICU care. Eligible participants had a child with an SNI condition for >3 months admitted to the PICU for >24 hours with an expected length of stay >1 week. RESULTS Data were analyzed by a research team with expertise in palliative care, psychology, critical care, and qualitative methods. Fifteen family caregivers of 15 children participated. Children were a median of 8 years old (interquartile range 4-11.5) and 80% (n = 12) had congenital/genetic conditions. Parent/family caregivers were a median age of 39 years old (interquartile range 36-42.5); 20% (n = 3) self-identified as fathers and 47% (n = 7) as having to a minority racial background. Parents discussed ongoing meaning-making that occurred through domains of comprehension and purpose, and themes of understanding of other people and the world around them. Subthemes focused on appreciation/acceptance, adaptability/accountability, valuing all lives, and learning/teaching about their child. CONCLUSIONS Meaning-making may be an opportunity for support in the PICU among parents/family caregivers of children with SNI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jori F. Bogetz
- Divisions of Bioethics and Palliative Care
- Treuman Katz Center for Bioethics
| | | | | | - Krysta S. Barton
- Biostatistics Epidemiology and Analytics for Research (BEAR) Core, Seattle Children’s Research Institute; Seattle, Washington
| | | | - R. Scott Watson
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; Seattle, Washington
| | - Abby R. Rosenberg
- Division of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts
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Seiler A, Amann M, Hertler C, Christ SM, Schettle M, Kaeppeli BM, Jung-Amstutz J, Nigg C, Pestalozzi BC, Imesch P, Dummer R, Blum D, Jenewein J. Effects of dignity therapy on psychological distress and wellbeing of palliative care patients and family caregivers - a randomized controlled study. BMC Palliat Care 2024; 23:73. [PMID: 38486192 PMCID: PMC10938771 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01408-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study extended the original Dignity Therapy (DT) intervention by including partners and family caregivers (FCs) of terminally-ill cancer patients with the overall aim of evaluating whether DT can mitigate distress in both patients nearing the end of life and their FCs. METHODS In this multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT), a total of 68 patients with life expectancy < 6 months and clinically-relevant stress levels (Hospital Anxiety Depression total score; HADStot ≥ 8) including their FCs were randomly assigned to DT, DT + (including their FCs), or standard palliative care (SPC) in a 1:1:1 ratio. Study participants were asked to complete a set of questionnaires pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS The coalesced group (DT and DT +) revealed a significant increase in patients' perceived quality of life (FACIT-Pal-14) following the intervention (mean difference 6.15, SD = 1.86, p < 0.01). We found a statistically significant group-by-time interaction effect: while the HADStot of patients in the intervention group remained stable over the pre-post period, the control group's HADStot increased (F = 4.33, df = 1, 82.9; p < 0.05), indicating a protective effect of DT. Most patients and their FCs found DT useful and would recommend it to other individuals in their situation. CONCLUSIONS The DT intervention has been well-received and shows the potential to increase HRQoL and prevent further mental health deterioration, illness burden and suffering in terminally-ill patients. The DT intervention holds the potential to serve as a valuable tool for facilitating end-of-life conversations among terminally-ill patients and their FCs. However, the implementation of DT within the framework of a RCT in a palliative care setting poses significant challenges. We suggest a slightly modified and less resource-intensive version of DT that is to provide the DT inventory to FCs of terminally-ill patients, empowering them to ask the questions that matter most to them over their loved one's final days. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered with Clinical Trial Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov -Protocol Record NCT02646527; date of registration: 04/01/2016). The CONSORT 2010 guidelines were used for properly reporting how the randomized trial was conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annina Seiler
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Competence Center for Palliative Care, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Manuel Amann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Competence Center for Palliative Care, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Hertler
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Competence Center for Palliative Care, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian M Christ
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Competence Center for Palliative Care, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Schettle
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Competence Center for Palliative Care, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Bernhard C Pestalozzi
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Imesch
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reinhard Dummer
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Blum
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Competence Center for Palliative Care, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Josef Jenewein
- Privatklinik Hohenegg, Meilen, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Borges PJ, Hernández-Marrero P, Martins Pereira S. A bioethical perspective on the meanings behind a wish to hasten death: a meta-ethnographic review. BMC Med Ethics 2024; 25:23. [PMID: 38413954 PMCID: PMC10898028 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-024-01018-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The expressions of a "wish to hasten death" or "wish to die" raise ethical concerns and challenges. These expressions are related to ethical principles intertwined within the field of medical ethics, particularly in end-of-life care. Although some reviews were conducted about this topic, none of them provides an in-depth analysis of the meanings behind the "wish to hasten death/die" based specifically on the ethical principles of autonomy, dignity, and vulnerability. The aim of this review is to understand if and how the meanings behind the "wish to hasten death/die" relate to and are interpreted in light of ethical principles in palliative care. METHODS We conducted a meta-ethnographic review according to the PRISMA guidelines and aligned with Noblit and Hare's framework. Searches were performed in three databases, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, with no time restrictions. Original qualitative studies exploring the meanings given by patients, family caregivers and healthcare professionals in any context of palliative and end-of-life care were included. A narrative synthesis was undertaken. PROSPERO registration CRD42023360330. RESULTS Out of 893 retrieved articles, 26 were included in the analysis, accounting for the meanings of a total of 2,398 participants. Several factors and meanings associated with the "wish to hasten death" and/or "wish to die" were identified and are mainly of a psychosocial and spiritual nature. The ethical principles of autonomy and dignity were the ones mostly associated with the "wish to hasten death". Ethical principles were essentially inferred from the content of included articles, although not explicitly stated as bioethical principles. CONCLUSIONS This meta-ethnographic review shows a reduced number of qualitative studies on the "wish to hasten death" and/or "wish to die" explicitly stating ethical principles. This suggests a lack of bioethical reflection and reasoning in the empirical end-of-life literature and a lack of embedded ethics in clinical practice. There is a need for healthcare professionals to address these topics compassionately and ethically, taking into account the unique perspectives of patients and family members. More qualitative studies on the meanings behind a wish to hasten death, their ethical contours, ethical reasoning, and implications for clinical practice are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo J Borges
- Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo (HDES), Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Portugal.
- Instituto de Bioética, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Pablo Hernández-Marrero
- CEGE: Research Center in Management and Economics - Ethics and Sustainability Research Area, Católica Porto Business School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
- Portuguese Nurses Association for Long-Term and Palliative Care (AECCP), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sandra Martins Pereira
- CEGE: Research Center in Management and Economics - Ethics and Sustainability Research Area, Católica Porto Business School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
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Dong L, Li L, Wu Y, Zhao X, Zhong H, Cheng X, Liu L, Cheng C, Ouyang M, Tao L. A Systematic Review of Interventions for Demoralization in Patients with Chronic Diseases. Int J Behav Med 2024:10.1007/s12529-024-10262-w. [PMID: 38316668 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-024-10262-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Demoralization, a significant mental health concern in patients with chronic diseases, can have a large impact on physical symptom burden and quality of life. The present review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for demoralization among patients with chronic diseases. METHOD PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched. Research on providing interventions to patients with chronic diseases that included quantitative data on demoralization was then systematically reviewed. RESULTS Fourteen studies were included, most of which considered demoralization as a secondary outcome. Interventions included evidence-based meaning-centered psychotherapy, dignity therapy, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, and others. Ten studies used randomized controlled designs. Six of these investigated evidence-based meaning-centered therapy, and four investigated dignity therapy, showing the best empirical support for these intervention types. Most studies showed significant impacts on demoralization in patients with chronic diseases. CONCLUSION This systematic review provides insights into potential psychological interventions for reducing demoralization in patients with chronic diseases. Randomized controlled designs and adequately powered samples, with demoralization as the primary outcome, are needed to more clearly evaluate its effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Dong
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Yunlian Wu
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhao
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Hui Zhong
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Xi Cheng
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Lixia Liu
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Changxia Cheng
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Mingqiu Ouyang
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Liande Tao
- Department of Nursing, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China.
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