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The effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on the symptom management, the life satisfaction, and the self-transcendence in palliative care patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Canan Bozkurt, Yasemin Yildirim

Supportive Care in Cancer June 14, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08626-9 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 44
Population Palliative care patients without cognitive impairment and able to communicate
Interventions Individualized reminiscence therapy Unstructured social interviewing
Duration 15 days (2 weeks), eight sessions every other day, each session approximately 30 minutes
Topics End-of-life distress
Keywords Life satisfaction Palliative care Reminiscence therapy Self-transcendence Symptom assessment
Registration NCT05242016
Key findings Reminiscence therapy significantly increased life satisfaction and self-transcendence compared to placebo and control groups, but did not reduce physical or total symptom burden.

Abstract

To examine the effect of individualized reminiscence therapy on the management of global distress and physical and psychological symptoms, life satisfaction and self-transcendence levels of palliative care patients. In a single-center palliative care service in western Turkey, 48 patients without cognitive impairment and able to communicate were included in the study. However, 44 patients completed the study. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the reminiscence therapy (intervention), unstructured social interviewing (placebo), and control groups (16 people for each group) before the start of the study. The sessions for the interview and placebo groups were conducted face-to-face in the patient's room (while the patient was sitting or lying down) for 15 days (2 weeks), every other day, for a total of eight sessions (each session was approximately 30 min). Data collection instruments-the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, the Contentment with Life Assessment Scale, and the Self-Transcendence Scale-were collected at baseline (first day) and after the intervention (day 15th). Statistical significance level was accepted as p < 0.05. There was no decrease in physical and total symptom burden (p > 0.05). There were significant reductions in general distress and psychological symptoms in the intervention and placebo groups within the group (p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between the control group and all groups when compared (p > 0.05). Group × time interactions were statistically significant for life satisfaction and self-transcendence (p < 0.001), and there was a substantial increase in the intervention group compared to the other groups. It may be recommended that reminiscence therapy intervention be included in routine nursing care as it may contribute positively to the psychological recovery of palliative care patients approaching the end of life. ClinicalTrails.gov (Registration number: NCT05242016). Prospectively registered on 1 February 2022.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on end-of-life distress, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Acute and Sustained Reductions in Loss of Meaning and Suicidal Ideation Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Psychiatric and Existential Distress in Life-Threatening Cancer People with advanced cancer 2021 Randomized controlled trial
PAM trial protocol: a randomised feasibility study of psychedelic microdosing-assisted meaning-centred psychotherapy in advanced stage cancer patients. Māori and non-Māori adults with advanced-stage cancer and symptoms of anxiety and/or... 2024 Randomized controlled trial protocol n = 40
Integrating Immersive Virtual Reality Meditation into Palliative Oncology: A Randomized Trial Protocol for Evaluating Pain Relief and Quality of Life Cancer patients under palliative care at the Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Service... 2026 Randomized clinical trial
Effect of a 5-Minute Mindfulness-of-Gratitude Practice on Suffering and Spiritual Well-Being in Palliative Care Inpatients: A Randomized Controlled Study. Palliative care inpatients 2026 Randomized controlled trial

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