Asian Oncol Nurs.  2018 Dec;18(4):173-187. 10.5388/aon.2018.18.4.173.

An Integrative Review of Meaning-Centered Intervention Studies for Patients with Advanced or Terminal Cancer

• Kang KA
• Han SJ
• Kim SJ
• Lim YS

• KMID: 2431000
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2018.18.4.173

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to review studies of Meaning-Centered Intervention (MCI) in advanced or terminal cancer patients using Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review method.
METHODS
We conducted a literature search using nine English or Korean electronic databases by using the keywords "˜meaning therapy OR meaning-centered intervention OR psychotherapy'. All studies were original articles about MCI in peer-reviewed journals from inception to August 2017. A risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized studies was used for quality assessment.
RESULTS
Seventeen studies matched the criteria. Thirteen studies assessed through RoBANS had a low risk of bias in most areas. The most frequently used tools were 8 group intervention sessions around 90 or 120 minutes in length. The outcome variables used in this study were quality of life, anxiety, depression, meaning of life, and spiritual well-being. The purpose of MCI was to improve the spiritual well-being and quality of life for patients by finding meaning in life even when faced with cancer.
CONCLUSION
In this study, spiritual care was identified as an important factor from the MCI applied evidence-based data. The MCI could be effective way to improve spiritual well-being for the patients with advanced or terminal cancer and their families.

Keyword

Neoplasms; Nursing; Patients; Review Literature

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Bias (Epidemiology)
Depression
Humans
Methods
Nursing
Quality of Life

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flowchart of the selection process for eligible studies for review.

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