ABSTRACT
Purpose@#Dignity is a basic human right that is related to psychological distress factors in patients with cancer such as depression and demoralization. Hence, the dignity issue is of great importance to healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to advise healthcare professionals regarding the related distress factors of dignity in patients with cancer by investigating its relationship with patients’ demographics, disease characteristics, and psychological distress. @*Methods@#This was a cross-sectional study design. A convenience sample of 267 patients with cancer from a medical center was recruited into this study. Each patient completed demographics and disease characteristics questionnaires, the Patient Dignity Inventory Mandarin Version, the Demoralization Scale Mandarin Version (DS-MV), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 software. @*Results@#Dignity was significantly correlated with age, demoralization, and depression. Cancer patients aged 65 or above were more likely to have a lower sense of dignity. In the present study, the sensitivity and specificity of the Patient Dignity Inventory Mandarin Version for demoralization (DS-MV≥30) were 84.8% and 79.1% and for depression (PHQ-9≥10) were 73.8% and 70.9% in patients with cancer with an aggregate score of 35 or above. @*Conclusions@#Dignity is significantly correlated with personal demographic characteristics and psychological distress in patients with cancer. The results provide reference data for healthcare professionals to understand and enable dignity in patients with cancer and aid in the development of methods that promote their dignity.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of dignity therapy for end-of-life patients with cancer. @*Methods@#This study used a quasi-experimental study design with a nonrandomized controlled trial.Dignity therapy was used as an intervention in the experimental group, and general visit was used in the control group. Thirty end-of-life patients with cancer were recruited, with 16 in the experimental group and 14 in the control group. Outcome variables were the participants' dignity, demoralization, and depression. Measurements were taken at the following time points: pre-test (before intervention), posttest 1 (the 7th day), and post-test 2 (the 14th day). The effectiveness of the intervention in the two groups was analyzed using the generalized estimating equation, with the p value set to be less than .05. @*Results@#After dignity therapy, the end-of-life patients with cancer reflected increased dignity signifi-cantly [β= -37.08, standard error (SE) = 7.43, Wald x2= 24.94, p < .001], whereas demoralization (β= -39.55, SE = 6.42, Wald x2= 37.95, p < .001) and depression (β= -12.01, SE = 2.17, x2= 30.71, p< 001) were both reduced significantly. @*Conclusion@#Clinical nurses could be adopting dignity therapy to relieve psychological distress and improve spiritual need in end-of-life patients with cancer. Future studies might be expanded to looking at patients vis-a -vis end-of-life patients without cancer to improve their psychological distress. These results provide reference data for the care of end-of-life patients with cancer for nursing professionals.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of dignity therapy for end-of-life patients with cancer. @*Methods@#This study used a quasi-experimental study design with a nonrandomized controlled trial.Dignity therapy was used as an intervention in the experimental group, and general visit was used in the control group. Thirty end-of-life patients with cancer were recruited, with 16 in the experimental group and 14 in the control group. Outcome variables were the participants' dignity, demoralization, and depression. Measurements were taken at the following time points: pre-test (before intervention), posttest 1 (the 7th day), and post-test 2 (the 14th day). The effectiveness of the intervention in the two groups was analyzed using the generalized estimating equation, with the p value set to be less than .05. @*Results@#After dignity therapy, the end-of-life patients with cancer reflected increased dignity signifi-cantly [β= -37.08, standard error (SE) = 7.43, Wald x2= 24.94, p < .001], whereas demoralization (β= -39.55, SE = 6.42, Wald x2= 37.95, p < .001) and depression (β= -12.01, SE = 2.17, x2= 30.71, p< 001) were both reduced significantly. @*Conclusion@#Clinical nurses could be adopting dignity therapy to relieve psychological distress and improve spiritual need in end-of-life patients with cancer. Future studies might be expanded to looking at patients vis-a -vis end-of-life patients without cancer to improve their psychological distress. These results provide reference data for the care of end-of-life patients with cancer for nursing professionals.