Virtual Dignity Therapy for Palliative Care Patients With Advanced Cancer

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Advanced Cancer
• Interventions: Behavioral: Virtual Dignity Therapy

• Registration Number: NCT05113199
• Lead Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if it is feasible and acceptable to recruit for and deliver the Virtual Dignity Therapy intervention to palliative care patients with advanced cancer.

Detailed Description

This study is an investigator-initiated, single site Mayo Clinic Rochester prospective minimal risk pilot study to determine feasibility and acceptability of Virtual Dignity Therapy. The Dignity Therapy intervention is a brief, individualized psychotherapy that aims to relieve psycho-emotional and existential distress and improve the experiences of patients whose lives are impacted by serious illness. This therapy offers patients an opportunity to reflect on their life with a trained facilitator and share their thoughts and memories with family and other people in their life. This therapy consists of a total of 3 sessions, with each session 2-4 weeks apart, in which the investigator provides questions focused on life review. The sessions are recorded and transcribed. The interventionist will work with patients to edit the document and provide a final generativity document for patient to keep and give to loved ones.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-08-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-10-28
• Study First Posted: 2021-11-09
• Study Start: 2021-11-18
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-26
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-28
• Primary Completion: 2024-10-31
• Study Completion: 2025-10-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ≥18 years
• English fluency
• No diagnosed dementia
• Diagnosis of advanced cancer
• Expected prognosis > 6 months
• Provide informed consent
• Ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance

Read More

Exclusion Criteria

• Other psychological co-morbidities such as untreated schizophrenia, bipolar disease
• Recent suicide attempt or psychiatric illness severe enough that hospitalization has been necessary in last 6 months
• Active delirium
• Participation in concurrent legacy offerings through the palliative care clinic

Inclusion Criteria for caregivers:

• Age ≥18 years
• English fluency
• Provide informed consent
• Supported patient through Dignity Therapy

Read More

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Virtual Dignity Therapy	Virtual Dignity Therapy	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Feasibility Number	2 Years	Study feasibility will be measured by the number of participants who enrolled and finished the study.
Acceptability	Week 8 (after 3rd intervention session)	Acceptability, as measured by the 7-item Was it Worth It (WIWI Questionnaire).The questions are answered as either "yes, no, or uncertain," overall perception of quality of life change, overall perception of study experience, one open-ended feedback question, and an option to talk with someone about concerns. Positive responses indicate acceptability. Results are reported as individual items.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Mayo Clinic; 🇺🇸 Rochester, Minnesota, United States