The impact of a spiritual legacy intervention in patients with brain cancers and other neurologic illnesses and their support persons

Katherine M. Piderman, Carmen Radecki Breitkopf, Sarah M. Jenkins, Maria I. Lapid, Gracia M. Kwete, Terin T. Sytsma, Laura A. Lovejoy, Timothy J. Yoder, Aminah Jatoi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)346-353
Number of pages8
JournalPsycho-Oncology
Volume26
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017

Keywords

  • brain cancer
  • chaplain
  • life review
  • neurologic illness
  • spiritual legacy
  • spirituality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Oncology

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