The goal of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a structured life review protocol named **Dear Memories** on decreasing enhancing quality of life in palliative cancer patients, and the autobiographical memory . We would like to…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
kwaliteit van leven
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Primary outcome measures of the respondents are quality of life (EORTC
QLQ-PAL15), ego integrity (NEIS) and specificity of Autobiographical Memory
(AMT).
Secondary outcome
Secondary outcome measures of the respondents are depressive sympoms (HADS;
MINI), health care use (TIC-P). Outcome measures of partners are: level of
depressive symptoms (HADS), care givers reaction (CRA) and post traumatic
growth (PTGI).
Background summary
In many cancer patients in the palliative phase, a reduced quality of life is
present. Incurable ill cancer patients often experience feelings of sadness,
depression, hopelessness and spiritual distress, such as an evaluation of one*s
past and problems with finding a new meaning in life with a palliative disease.
In the daily practice of psychosocial care there is an urgent need to
evidence-based psychosocial intervention methods enhancing the quality of life
and dying and relieving the emotional distress in palliative cancer patients.
Structured life review therapy seems to be an intervention appropriate to this
need.
Study objective
The goal of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a structured
life review protocol named **Dear Memories** on decreasing enhancing quality of
life in palliative cancer patients, and the autobiographical memory . We would
like to investigate possible determinants of efficacy of the intervention, such
as age, gender and cultural background. If the protocol appears to be
effective, it can be introduced in psychosocial care in other cancer patients
as well.
Study design
A multicenter prospective randomised control trial with two parallel groups.
Patients are assigned to either an intervention group; receiving the life
review protocol immediately after premeasurement or to a waiting list
condition, receiving care-asusual and a follow-up measurement after one month
to asses long-term effectiveness.
15-20 patients who completed the intervention will be asked to participate in a
qualitative study in which they will be interviewed regarding their motivation
to participate, their experiences with the intervention and the perceived
effects of the intervention.
Intervention
The intervention will be individually administered and consists of four weekly
sessions, with every session focusing on a particular life period * childhood,
adolescence, adulthood and summary. For each period, 14 questions are prepared
that are designed to prompt specific positive memories. For example: **What is
the most pleasant situation that you remember from your childhood? The
interviewer tries to get a specific view of the situation by asking for more
information. Patients receive feedback on how well they are doing in retrieving
specific memories.
Study burden and risks
Based on our experiences with depressed elderly in primary care settings, we
consider the risks associated with participation negligible.
van der Boechorststraat 1
Amsterdam 1081 BT
NL
van der Boechorststraat 1
Amsterdam 1081 BT
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Palliative cancer patients with a prognose > 3 months - no severe impediments in oral communication - (clarity) - capability to express themselves in Dutch
Exclusion criteria
psychotic behaviour (delusions or hallucinations) or severe anxiety or depressive symptoms
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL31343.029.10 |