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The impact of a spiritual legacy intervention in patients with brain cancers and other neurologic illnesses and their support persons
Author(s) -
Piderman Katherine M.,
Radecki Breitkopf Carmen,
Jenkins Sarah M.,
Lapid Maria I.,
Kwete Gracia M.,
Sytsma Terin T.,
Lovejoy Laura A.,
Yoder Timothy J.,
Jatoi Aminah
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.4031
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , quality of life (healthcare) , psychology , receipt , purpose in life , spiritual care , disease , clinical psychology , medicine , spirituality , alternative medicine , psychotherapist , pathology , world wide web , computer science
Objective The objectives were to assess the feasibility of using a novel, comprehensive chaplain‐led spiritual life review interview to develop a personal Spiritual Legacy Document (SLD) for persons with brain tumors and other neurodegenerative diseases and to describe spiritual well‐being (SWB), spiritual coping, and quality of life (QOL) of patients and their support persons (SP) before and after receipt of the SLD. Methods Patient‐SP pairs were enrolled over a 2‐year period. Assessments included the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐Spiritual Expanded Version, Brief Religious Coping Scale, Brief COPE Inventory, and QOL Linear Analog Scale. Baseline assessments were completed prior to an audio‐recorded spiritual life review interview with a chaplain. Results Thirty‐two patient/SP pairs were enrolled; 27 completed baseline assessments and the interview. Twenty‐four reviewed their SLD and were eligible for follow‐up. A total of 15 patients and 12 SPs completed the 1‐month follow‐up; 10 patients and seven SPs completed the 3‐month follow‐up. Patients endorsed high levels of SWB and spiritual coping at baseline. Both patients and SPs evidenced improvement on several aspects of SWB, spiritual coping, and QOL at 1 month, but patients' decreased financial well‐being was also observed. Patients and SPs demonstrated favorable changes in peacefulness and positive religious coping at both time points. Conclusions A chaplain‐led spiritual life review is a feasible intervention for patients with neurodegenerative disease and results in beneficial effects on patients and SPs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.