Virtual Dignity Therapy for Palliative Care Patients With Advanced Cancer

Mayo Clinic21 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine if it is feasible and acceptable to recruit for and deliver the Virtual Dignity Therapy intervention to palliative care patients with advanced cancer.

This study is an investigator-initiated, single site Mayo Clinic Rochester prospective minimal risk pilot study to determine feasibility and acceptability of Virtual Dignity Therapy. The Dignity Therapy intervention is a brief, individualized psychotherapy that aims to relieve psycho-emotional and existential distress and improve the experiences of patients whose lives are impacted by serious illness. This therapy offers patients an opportunity to reflect on their life with a trained facilitator and share their thoughts and memories with family and other people in their life. This therapy consists of a total of 3 sessions, with each session 2-4 weeks apart, in which the investigator provides questions focused on life review. The sessions are recorded and transcribed. The interventionist will work with patients to edit the document and provide a final generativity document for patient to keep and give to loved ones.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Advanced Cancer

Interventions

Virtual Dignity TherapyBEHAVIORAL

Virtual Dignity Therapy will be facilitated by a registered nurse or medical doctor trained in Dignity Therapy.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years * English fluency * No diagnosed dementia * Diagnosis of advanced cancer * Expected prognosis \> 6 months * Provide informed consent * Ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance Exclusion Criteria: * Other psychological co-morbidities such as untreated schizophrenia, bipolar disease * Recent suicide attempt or psychiatric illness severe enough that hospitalization has been necessary in last 6 months * Active delirium * Participation in concurrent legacy offerings through the palliative care clinic Inclusion Criteria for caregivers: * Age ≥18 years * English fluency * Provide informed consent * Supported patient through Dignity Therapy

Locations (1)

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Feasibility Number

Study feasibility will be measured by the number of participants who enrolled and finished the study.

Time frame: 2 Years

Acceptability

Acceptability, as measured by the 7-item Was it Worth It (WIWI Questionnaire).The questions are answered as either "yes, no, or uncertain," overall perception of quality of life change, overall perception of study experience, one open-ended feedback question, and an option to talk with someone about concerns. Positive responses indicate acceptability. Results are reported as individual items.

Time frame: Week 8 (after 3rd intervention session)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.