1887P - Effect of logotherapy on chronic sorrow, dignity, and meaning in life of palliative care patients

Background

Palliative care patients experience chronic sorrow due to living loss such as impairment in bodily functions, inability to carry out daily life, and meaninglessness due to impending death. Logotherapy was shown to be an effective method to cope with end-of-life related distress. The aim of this study was to investigate effectiveness of logotherapy on chronic sorrow, dignity, and meaning in life on palliative care patients.

Methods

This randomized-controlled study was conducted between September 2021-June 2023 in medical and gynecological oncology clinics of a university hospital, with 58 adult advanced cancer patients requiring palliative care. Participants were assigned to either intervention (n=29) or control (n=29) group by simple randomization via a computer program. Participants, ≥18 years old, having advanced solid cancer, aware of their diagnosis, having no communication problem or mental disorder, with a life expectancy over 6 months and Palliative Performance Scale score ≥%50, and verbally expressing to experience chronic sorrow were included. Data were collected with demographic form, Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI), Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale-Patient Form (PGD-PF), presence of meaning (MIL-PM) and search for meaning (MIL-SM) subdimensions of Meaning in Life (MIL) Questionnaire. Data were collected on admission, at the 4^th and 8^th weeks. Intervention group received logotherapy, lasting about of 45 minutes, 2 days a week for 4 weeks. Control group received routine care.

Results

The mean scores of PDI (p=0.01), PGD-PF (p=0.01) and MIL-SM (p=0.11) were lower in the intervention group, while MIL-PM was higher (p=0.02). Within group analysis showed a decrease in PDI (p<0.01), PGD-PF (p=0.01), MIL-SM (p=0.02), and increase in MIL-PM (p<0.01) in the intervention group while mean scores of PDI (p=0.01), PGD-PF (p=0.01), MIL-SM (p=0.04), and MIL-PM (p=0.05) decreased in control group.

Conclusions

Logotherapy was found effective on decreasing sorrow and dignity related distress of palliative care patients, while increasing finding meaning in life.

Clinical trial identification

NCT05129059.

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.