Responding to the Spiritual Needs of Palliative Care Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Test the Effectiveness of the Kibo Therapeutic Interview

Impact of Spiritual Support Interventions on the Quality of Life of Patients Who Receive Palliative Care: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Palliative care focuses on the prevention of worsening health, improving the quality of the patient's life, and the relief of suffering, and therefore has a considerable impact on both the patient suffering from a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening illness and on their family. Spirituality, as the dimension of human life involving the search for meaning, purpose, and transcendence, and connection with oneself, others, and the sacred, could be essential in supporting these patients. The aim of this study was to synthesise the scientific evidence describing the interventions and/or activities undertaken to meet the spiritual needs of the palliative patient.

METHODS

A literature search was carried out across the following databases: PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, and Web of Science. The PRISMA statement was used to guide this review.

RESULTS

Twenty-four articles were included. The thematic categories included spiritual needs at the end of life, the influence of music and dance as palliative care, care for family caregivers, and the comparison between counselling and dignity therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions in the biopsychosocial-spiritual spheres impact on the patient's peace of mind and promote the acceptance of a "good death". Healthcare personnel play an essential role in the way their patients prepare for the moment of death, and the meaning and values they convey help them to accompany and welcome patients. Last but not least, universities can play a crucial role by training nurses to integrate spiritual interventions such as music and dance, or by considering the family as a unit of care. The systematic review protocol was registered in the Prospective International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under protocol number CRD42023490852.

A Systematic Review of Interventions for Demoralization in Patients with Chronic Diseases

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.