Overview
We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of dignity therapy for terminally ill patients with the aim of reducing dignity-related distress and demoralization and improving spiritual well-being.
Description
Sample size assessment: A recent meta-analysis showed that dignity interventions reach on average effect sizes of -1.01 on emotional distress (Ho and Shin, 2014). Power analysis showed that with an alpha of 0.05 and a power of 0.80, we needed a sample of 26 participants to detect effect sizes of 1.01 and higher.
Plan for missing data: Occasional missing values were imputed by calculating, for each participant, the average score for each subscale and then replaced.
Statistical analysis plan: We conducted a 2 (group) X 3 (time [pre-treatment vs. post-treatment vs follow-up]) repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for a set of variables
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- age over 18,
- diagnosis of life-threatening disease with a prognosis of six months or less,
- no evidence of dementia (as determined by retrospective assessments),
- the ability to read and speak Italian and provide written informed consent,
- the availability for six to seven research encounters over the period of three weeks
Exclusion Criteria:
- psychotic illness,
- dementia and severe neurological impairment