Development of Dignity Individual Music Therapy Program “Your Important Melody”

Introduction: Although spiritual care is one of the challenges of palliative care, structured interventions are limited. We report on the original development of the Dignity Individual Music Therapy Program (DMT) incorporating the elements of Dignity Therapy (DT) for spiritual care. Program: Developed by a research group including a music therapist based on the experience of DT. Procedure: First, the patient selects important songs based on questions such as "When did you live the most in your life? Are there any songs that remind you of those days?" Next, a music therapist plays the music on a piano in a hospital room (individual concert). Encourage the patient to talk freely about their thoughts and life episodes after the performance. Discussion: Patients who have performed DMT have been very well received. Because it is a structured program, it can be implemented in various places. The utility and feasibility of spiritual care will be investigated.

Areas Considered Important by Patients Undergoing Anti-cancer Therapy and the Subjective QOL: The SEIQoL-DW of Outpatients under Palliative Care

Introduction: SEIQoL-DW is a method of measuring the subjective QOL by focusing on five areas considered important by the patient in a semi-structured counseling session. The objective of this study was to evaluate areas considered important by patients undergoing anti-cancer therapy and the subjective QOL. Methods: SEIQoL-DW was carried out consecutively on patients who met the inclusion criteria such as pain STAS-J 1 or lower at palliative care outpatient service. Results: The study was implemented on 68 subjects (35 anti-cancer therapy patients, and 33 palliative care patients). Commonly selected areas by anti-cancer therapy patients were “family” at 94%, “cancer treatment” at 69%, “health” at 43%, “friends” at 43%, “hobbies” at 40%. The mean subjective QOL of anti-cancer therapy patients was significantly lower than that of palliative care patients (61.5 vs 74.4). Conclusion: The area “family” makes great impact on the QOL. On the other hand, putting high importance on “cancer treatment” may have a negative impact on the QOL.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Areas Considered Important by Advanced Cancer Patients and the Subjective QOL Undergoing SEIQoL-DW

Introduction: SEIQoL-DW is a method of measuring the subjective QOL of each patient by focusing on five areas considered important by the patient in a semi-structured counseling session. The objective of this study was to longitudinally evaluate the shift in areas considered important by advanced-cancer patients along with the shift in the subjective QOL. Methods: Patients who underwent SEIQoL-DW at the time of palliative care visit (first session) and after palliative care hospitalization (second session) within 1 year, in addition to also meeting the inclusion criteria such as a pain level of STAS 1 or lower, were included as the study subjects.Results: A total of 5 cases (mean age of 67.6 years among 1 male case and 4 female cases) were included. The P.S. was 1 for all cases at the first session, among which 3 cases were undergoing chemotherapy. At the second session, the P.S. was 3 or 4 for all cases. The mean time between the two sessions was 164 days. In all cases, 3 or more of the 5 important areas changed at the time of the second session. The SEIQoL-index, which is a comprehensive subjective QOL, improved in 3 cases but decreased in the other 2 cases. Conclusion: The areas considered important by terminal phase patients widely change. The shift in subjective QOL of each patient does not necessarily correspond to the decrease in the P.S. level.