TY - JOUR
T1 - Meanings Emerging From Dignity Therapy Among Cancer Patients
AU - Buonaccorso, Loredana
AU - Tanzi, Silvia
AU - De Panfilis, Ludovica
AU - Ghirotto, Luca
AU - Autelitano, Cristina
AU - Chochinov, Harvey Max
AU - Di Leo, Silvia
AU - Martucci, Gianfranco
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Context: Generativity is a process whereby patients nearing the end of life invest in those they will soon leave behind. In recent years, the trajectory of cancer has changed, as new therapies have prolonged survival and patients often live with metastatic disease for several years. For these patients and for the healthcare professionals who care for them it can be useful to understand if the concept of generativity is clinically salient. Objectives: To explore the meanings emerging from two dignity therapy questions, particularly salient to generativity, amongst cancer patients in different care settings. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, qualitative study in 1) home palliative care (life expectancy < 3 months); 2) specialized palliative care provided by team within an oncology hospital (life expectancy > 9–12 months); and 3) oncological day hospital (potentially curable disease). We thematically analyzed the answers of two dignity therapy questions. Results: Three themes and related meanings emerged from 37 dignity therapy sessions with respect to the two questions: 1) Meanings concerning the present life and illness, including the experience of suffering; 2) Thoughts and actions towards the self, including ways in which the patients have felt alive; 3) Thoughts and actions towards significant others, especially values that are based mainly on love for oneself and for others. No notable differences across stages and care settings emerged in terms of the meanings emerging from two dignity therapy questions. Conclusion: Conversations about generativity could inform clinicians on how to communicate about existential and meaning-based issues across different stages of illness.
AB - Context: Generativity is a process whereby patients nearing the end of life invest in those they will soon leave behind. In recent years, the trajectory of cancer has changed, as new therapies have prolonged survival and patients often live with metastatic disease for several years. For these patients and for the healthcare professionals who care for them it can be useful to understand if the concept of generativity is clinically salient. Objectives: To explore the meanings emerging from two dignity therapy questions, particularly salient to generativity, amongst cancer patients in different care settings. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, qualitative study in 1) home palliative care (life expectancy < 3 months); 2) specialized palliative care provided by team within an oncology hospital (life expectancy > 9–12 months); and 3) oncological day hospital (potentially curable disease). We thematically analyzed the answers of two dignity therapy questions. Results: Three themes and related meanings emerged from 37 dignity therapy sessions with respect to the two questions: 1) Meanings concerning the present life and illness, including the experience of suffering; 2) Thoughts and actions towards the self, including ways in which the patients have felt alive; 3) Thoughts and actions towards significant others, especially values that are based mainly on love for oneself and for others. No notable differences across stages and care settings emerged in terms of the meanings emerging from two dignity therapy questions. Conclusion: Conversations about generativity could inform clinicians on how to communicate about existential and meaning-based issues across different stages of illness.
KW - cancer patients
KW - dignity therapy
KW - Generativity
KW - legacies
KW - meaning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106321006&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85106321006&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.02.028
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.02.028
M3 - Article
C2 - 33621595
AN - SCOPUS:85106321006
VL - 62
SP - 730
EP - 737
JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
JF - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
SN - 0885-3924
IS - 4
ER -