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Effects and satisfaction of dignity therapy among patients with hematologic neoplasms in the Chinese cultural context: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate potential effects and satisfaction of dignity therapy among patients with hematologic neoplasms in the Chinese cultural context.

Methods

Sixty-six patients with hematologic neoplasms were randomly assigned into either a dignity therapy group (N = 32) or control group (N = 34). The primary outcomes were level of hope and spiritual well-being, as measured according to the Herth Hope Index and the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being, at baseline (T0), 1-week follow-up (T1), and 4-week follow-up (T2). Satisfaction with dignity therapy was assessed using a 5-grade marking system at T1.

Results

Among the 66 participants, 61 remained at 1-week follow-up and 57 remained at 4-week follow-up. Group differences were found in the total score and the scores of each dimension of spiritual well-being and level of hope at T1 and T2 (p < 0.05). Interaction effects were statistically significant in terms of spiritual well-being (p < 0.001) and level of hope (p < 0.001). Majority of the patients (93.34%) and family members (96.67%) gave positive evaluations (“very satisfactory” or “relatively satisfactory”) for the dignity therapy intervention.

Conclusion

Implementing dignity therapy among patients with hematologic neoplasms in China was associated with good efficacy in improving spiritual well-being and the level of hope in the short term. Difficulties and solutions involved in the implementation of dignity therapy in multiple cultures deserve attention.

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Data Availability

The datasets used or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all participants and their family members for their time and participation. Additionally, we would like to thank the doctors and nurses in the Hematology Department for their support and advice regarding this research.

Funding

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Talents Training Project from Fujian Province Health Commission (Grant No. 2018-ZQN-63) and the Science and Technology Innovation Joint Fund Project of Fujian Province, China (Grant No. 2019Y9029).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, No. 1 of Xueyuan Road, Shangjie Town, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China

    Jingyi Chen, Jie Yan, Chunfeng Wang, Ying Wang & Rong Hu

  2. Department of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No. 29 of Xinquan Road, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China

    Yong Wu

Authors
  1. Jingyi Chen
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  2. Jie Yan
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  4. Ying Wang
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  6. Rong Hu
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Contributions

Jingyi Chen: conceptualization, data curation, investigation, writing—original draft.

Jie Yan: data curation, software.

Chunfeng Wang: software, writing—review and editing.

Ying Wang: data curation, writing—review and editing.

Yong Wu: resources, project administration.

Rong Hu: methodology, validation, supervision.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yong Wu or Rong Hu.

Ethics declarations

Informed consent

The trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Fujian Medical University (number 2017/00049). Written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to the study. The study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent to participate

Written informed consent for publication was obtained from all participants included in this study.

Consent for publications

Patients signed informed consent regarding publishing their data.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Chen, J., Yan, J., Wang, C. et al. Effects and satisfaction of dignity therapy among patients with hematologic neoplasms in the Chinese cultural context: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer 29, 6819–6829 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06227-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06227-4

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