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Effect of dignity therapy on distress and end-of-life experience in terminally ill patients: a randomised controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
Background Dignity therapy is a unique, individualised, short-term psychotherapy that was developed for patients (and their families) living with life-threatening or life-limiting illness. We investigated whether dignity therapy could mitigate distress or bolster the experience in patients nearing the end of their lives.Methods Patients (aged ≥18 years) with a terminal prognosis (life expectancy ≤6 months) who were receiving palliative care in a hospital or community setting (hospice or home) in Canada, USA, and Australia were randomly assigned to dignity therapy, client-centred care, or standard palliative care in a 1:1:1 ratio. Randomisation was by use of a computer-generated table of random numbers in blocks of 30. Allocation concealment was by use of opaque sealed envelopes. The primary outcomes--reductions in various dimensions of distress before and after completion of the study--were measured with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Patient Dignity Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, items from the Structured Interview for Symptoms and Concerns, Quality of Life Scale, and modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Secondary outcomes of self-reported end-of-life experiences were assessed in a survey that was undertaken after the completion of the study. Outcomes were assessed by research staff with whom the participant had no previous contact to avoid any possible response bias or contamination. Analyses were done on all patients with available data at baseline and at the end of the study intervention. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00133965.Findings 165 of 441 patients were assigned to dignity therapy, 140 standard palliative care, and 136 client-centred care. 108, 111, and 107 patients, respectively, were analysed. No significant differences were noted in the distress levels before and after completion of the study in the three groups. For the secondary outcomes, patients reported that dignity therapy was significantly more likely than the other two interventions to have been helpful (χ(2)=35·50, df=2; p<0·0001), improve quality of life (χ(2)=14·52; p=0·001), increase sense of dignity (χ(2)=12·66; p=0·002), change how their family saw and appreciated them (χ(2)=33·81; p<0·0001), and be helpful to their family (χ(2)=33·86; p<0·0001). Dignity therapy was significantly better than client-centred care in improving spiritual wellbeing (χ(2)=10·35; p=0·006), and was significantly better than standard palliative care in terms of lessening sadness or depression (χ(2)=9·38; p=0·009); significantly more patients who had received dignity therapy reported that the study group had been satisfactory, compared with those who received standard palliative care (χ(2)=29·58; p<0·0001).Interpretation Although the ability of dignity therapy to mitigate outright distress, such as depression, desire for death or suicidality, has yet to be proven, its benefits in terms of self-reported end-of-life experiences support its clinical application for patients nearing death.Funding National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.
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“The intervention was administered by the first author as part of her PhD studies, who was trained in dignity therapy by Harvey Max Chochinov who developed dignity therapy [1,4].”
From Feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of dignity therapy for family carers of people with motor neurone disease (2014) · cites this paper as [1]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
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“Further, many interventions for adults with metastatic cancer (e.g., [14, 23]) are disconnected from the scientific evidence base on how to effectively reduce distress or change behavior.”
From A randomized controlled trial of a multi-modal palliative care intervention to promote advance care planning and psychological well-being among adults with advanced cancer: study protocol. (2022) · cites this paper as [14]
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“Many palliative care interventions address a single dimension of palliative care – e.g., ACP directive completion or sense of life meaning – or focus on patients in general rather than the anxious and depressed patients most in need of support [5, 13–15].”
From A randomized controlled trial of a multi-modal palliative care intervention to promote advance care planning and psychological well-being among adults with advanced cancer: study protocol. (2022) · cites this paper as [14]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
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“Though notable meaning-focused interventions for metastatic cancer patients exist (e.g., [14, 15]), none directly target avoidance of internal experience [25]”
From A randomized controlled trial of a multi-modal palliative care intervention to promote advance care planning and psychological well-being among adults with advanced cancer: study protocol. (2022) · cites this paper as [14]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Dignity therapy was significantly better than client-centered care (but not standard palliative care) in improving spiritual well-being”
From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as Chochinov et al. 2011
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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“it was significantly better than standard palliative care in terms of lessening sadness or depression”
From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as Chochinov et al. 2011
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“Dignity therapy is a brief psychotherapeutic intervention which has been shown to enhance the end of life experience in people with life-limiting conditions [1].”
From Feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of dignity therapy for family carers of people with motor neurone disease (2014) · cites this paper as [1]
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“This is similar to the findings for terminally ill cancer patients, where distressed individuals had a decrease in anxiety and depression scores [2], but those with low baseline levels of distress showed no change [1].”
From Feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of dignity therapy for family carers of people with motor neurone disease (2014) · cites this paper as [1]
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“Palliative care research has developed personally tailored, individually delivered interventions requiring significant resources (e.g., [14, 23, 38])”
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“Postintervention, the participants reported that dignity therapy was significantly more likely than the other two interventions to be helpful, improve QL, increase sense of dignity, change how their families saw and appreciated them, and help their families.”
From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as Chochinov et al. 2011
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“Postintervention, the participants reported that dignity therapy was significantly more likely than the other two interventions to be helpful, improve QL, increase sense of dignity, change how their families saw and appreciated them, and help their families.”
From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as Chochinov et al. 2011
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“Postintervention, the participants reported that dignity therapy was significantly more likely than the other two interventions to be helpful, improve QL, increase sense of dignity, change how their families saw and appreciated them, and help their families.”
From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as Chochinov et al. 2011
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“Postintervention, the participants reported that dignity therapy was significantly more likely than the other two interventions to be helpful, improve QL, increase sense of dignity, change how their families saw and appreciated them, and help their families.”
From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as Chochinov et al. 2011
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In the citing paper
“Postintervention, the participants reported that dignity therapy was significantly more likely than the other two interventions to be helpful, improve QL, increase sense of dignity, change how their families saw and appreciated them, and help their families.”
From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as Chochinov et al. 2011
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Citations
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Using Photographs to Bring Dignity to Patients and Help Clinicians Find Meaning and Joy in Work
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“…well-being and quality of life and reduced desire for hastened death; dignity therapy, which improved quality of life and sense of dignity (Chochinov et al. 2011); and Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM), which alleviated depressive symptoms and improved end-of-life preparation…”
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“For instance, Martínez et al. [7] identified only five randomized controlled trials in their 2016 review, the first of which appeared in 2011 [105].”
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Effects of short-term existential group therapy for breast Cancer patients
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“Psychotherapeutic approaches have shown limited efficacy [5] and may be too resource-intensive for widespread use.”
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“Individual-based life-review-oriented therapy has shown the ability to reduce distress in palliative (Chochinov et al., 2005; Chochinov et al., 2011) and long-term patients (Chochinov et al., 2012).”
BackgroundI’m Still Me: Inspiration and Instruction from Individuals with Brain Cancer
Piderman, K. M., Egginton, J. S., Ingram, C. J., Dose, A. M., Yoder, T. J., Lovejoy, L. A., Swanson, S. W., Hogg, J. T., Lapid, M. I., Jatoi, A., et al. (2016) · Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy · doi:10.1080/08854726.2016.1196975 · Cited by 11
“The interview questions were based on published research, that is, the spiritual assessment tool known as FICA (Borneman, Ferrell, & Puchalski, 2010), Dignity Therapy (Chochinov et al., 2011), and research on spiritual struggle (Pargament, 2007).”
BackgroundMethodGómez‐Batiste, X., Mateo-Ortega, D., Lasmarías, C., Novellas, A., Espinosa, J., Beas, E., Ela, S., & Barbero, J. (2016) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951516000857 · Cited by 12
“…have demonstrated the value of psychological interventions in this population (Rosenfeld et al., 2016; Breitbart, 2003; Breitbart et al., 2015; Chochinov et al., 2011; Gil Moncayo & Breitbart, 2013; Breitbart et al., 2010); however, most such interventions have been organized on an ad-hoc…”
BackgroundResultThe Understanding of Dignity Among In-Hospital Patients Living With Incurable Esophageal Cancer
Missel, M., & Bergenholtz, H. (2020) · Cancer Nursing · doi:10.1097/ncc.0000000000000859 · Cited by 11
“One of the prominent researchers in the field of empirical studies of the personal sense of dignity in palliative healthcare research is Chochinov and colleagues.(1,15,16)”
BackgroundThe Handbook of Wellness Medicine
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Existential Psychotherapy for Patients With Advanced Cancer: Facing the Future and the Past
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“ing with the imminent end of their lives [1,2] by”
BackgroundExistential Care in Daily Nursing Practice
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“Only eight articles met our inclusion and exclusion criteria after the full-text screening [7-14].”
BackgroundResultInfluentialDignity Therapy Improves Hope and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial
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“Research by Chochinov et al. (2005, 2011), which investigated the effect of dignity therapy on different aspects of near-death patients, showed that dignity therapy improves QOL (14,22).”
BackgroundSchoppee, T. M., Scarton, L. J., Bluck, S., Yao, Y., Keenan, G. M., Handzo, G. F., Chochinov, H. M., Fitchett, G. A., Emanuel, L. L., & Wilkie, D. J. (2021) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951521000614 · Cited by 10
“…authors used to describe evaluation strategies included assessment (Bentley et al., 2012), adherence (Hall and Chochinov, 2009; Hall et al., 2009; Chochinov et al., 2011; Hall et al., 2011; Bentley et al., 2014a; Juliao et al., 2014), protocol integrity (Chochinov et al., 2005), quality…”
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“[17] Chochinov HM, Kristjanson LJ, Breitbart W, McClement S, Hack TF, Hassard T, et al.”
BackgroundRational Suicide in the Elderly
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“Furthermore, although the evidence base for the benefits of palliative care has grown, minority patients are consistently underrepresented in these trials (Chochinov et al., 2011; Kutner et al., 2008; Temel et al., 2010; Wilkie & Ezenwa, 2012).”
Meaning-centered group psychotherapy in Portuguese cancer patients: A pilot exploratory trial
da Ponte, G., Ouakinin, S., Santo, J. E., Ohunakin, A., Prata, D., Amorim, I., Gameiro, Z., dos Santos, E. S., & BREITBART, W. S. (2021) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951521000602 · Cited by 12
“, 2005; Puchalski, 2013) in advanced cancer patients or terminally ill (Yalom and Greaves, 1977; Spiegel et al., 1981; Edelman et al., 1999; Edmonds et al., 1999; Classen et al., 2001; Kissane et al., 2003, 2007; Lee et al., 2006; Breitbart et al., 2010; Chochinov et al., 2011).”
Self-citationKukla, H., Herrler, A., Strupp, J., & Voltz, R. (2021) · Palliative Medicine · doi:10.1177/02692163211042528 · Cited by 12
Different Sources of Dignity-Related Distress in Women Receiving Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
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“The difference between Chochinov et al study and the present study in terms of dignity-related distress might be due to the involvement of different organs in cancer and different stages of the disease that directly influenced the level of dignity in patients studied by Chochinov et al (Chochinov et al., 2011).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialDeSanto‐Madeya, S., Tjia, J., Fitch, C. E., & Wachholtz, A. (2020) · American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® · doi:10.1177/1049909120971569 · Cited by 9
“Most patients who participate in Dignity Therapy reported an increased sense of meaning, purpose, and dignity(6-8); and most family members reported that Dignity Therapy made the seriously-ill person’s life more meaningful and the document was a source of comfort during their grief.(6,7,9) In a systematic review of 28…”
BackgroundDutta, O., Tan-Ho, G., Low, X. C., Tan, T. H. B., Ganapathy, S., Car, J., Ho, R. M.-H., Miao, C. Y., & Ho, A. H. Y. (2022) · BMC Palliative Care · doi:10.1186/s12904-022-00945-0 · Cited by 11
Examining Moderation of Dignity Therapy Effects by Symptom Burden or Religious/Spiritual Struggles
Fitchett, G. A., Yao, Y., Emanuel, L. L., Delgado-Guay, M. O., Handzo, G. F., Hauser, J. M., Kittelson, S. M., O’Mahony, S., Quest, T. E., Rabow, M. W., et al. (2024) · Journal of Pain and Symptom Management · doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.01.003 · Cited by 13
Self-citationSpirituality in Palliative Care
Leget, C. J. W. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_28-1 · Cited by 9
Perceived Life Expectancy Among Dialysis Recipients: A Scoping Review
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“interventions, such as the provision of psychosocial support to improve the wellbeing of people with limited life expectancy.(59,60) Studies are also currently in progress to evaluate the efficacy of communication support programs, given the challenges of communicating uncertainty about prognoses.”
BackgroundLa spiritualité en soins palliatifs adultes en Europe : une recherche de littérature
Meuli, V., & Zulian, G. B. (2015) · Revue internationale de soins palliatifs · doi:10.3917/inka.144.0113 · Cited by 9
Forster, B., Proskurin, H., Kelly, B. J., Lovell, M. R., Ilchef, R., & Clayton, J. M. (2016) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951516000365 · Cited by 9
“Dignity therapy (Chochinov et al., 2011) and meaning-centered psychotherapy (Breitbart et al.”
BackgroundSposato, L. (2016) · Occupational Therapy in Mental Health · doi:10.1080/0164212x.2016.1146930 · Cited by 9
“Chochinov et al. (2011) discussed that perhaps the measures used for their study’s primary outcomes (i.e., the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)) may not have been sensitive enough to pick up on changes in psychological functioning as compared to the outcome measures used to determine…”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluentialHolland, C., Hocking, A., Joubert, L., McDermott, F., Niski, M. D., Salo, F. T., & Quinn, M. A. (2017) · Journal of Palliative Medicine · doi:10.1089/jpm.2017.0058 · Cited by 9
Ho, A. H. Y., Dutta, O., Tan-Ho, G., Tan, T. H. B., Low, X. C., Ganapathy, S., Car, J., Ho, M. R., & Miao, C. Y. (2020) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/17561 · Cited by 9
“Two effective examples of applying the meaning reconstruction approach and the narrative approach in supporting holistic end-of-life care are dignity therapy [25,31,32] and family dignity intervention [33].”
Schoppee, T. M., Scarton, L. J., Bluck, S., Yao, Y., Keenan, G. M., Samuels, V., Fitchett, G. A., Handzo, G. F., Chochinov, H. M., Emanuel, L. L., et al. (2022) · BMC Palliative Care · doi:10.1186/s12904-021-00888-y · Cited by 9
“In two articles, authors noted that recordings were reviewed: Bentley and colleagues reviewed 3 recordings (10%) [9] and Chochinov et al [14] had an unspecified number of recordings reviewed by the research coordinator.”
BackgroundSelf-citationMiyamoto, S., Yamazaki, T., Shimizu, K., Matsubara, T., Kage, H., Watanabe, K., Kobo, H., Matsuyama, Y., Rodin, G., & Yoshiuchi, K. (2022) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056136 · Cited by 13
Group Work With Individuals With Chronic Cancer
Glaser, S. R., & Glassman, R. (2014) · Social Work in Health Care · doi:10.1080/00981389.2013.827610 · Cited by 9
“, 2010), Dignity therapy (Chochinov et al., 2011), and MaP therapy (Lethborg et al.”
BackgroundMethodStrategies Used by Older Adults to Maintain or Restore Attributed Dignity
Jacelon, C. S. (2014) · Research in Gerontological Nursing · doi:10.3928/19404921-20141110-01 · Cited by 9
Arch, J. J., Mitchell, J. L., Schmiege, S. J., Levin, M. E., Genung, S. R., Nealis, M. S., Fink, R. M., Bright, E. E., Andorsky, D. J., & Kutner, J. S. (2022) · BMC Palliative Care · doi:10.1186/s12904-022-01087-z · Cited by 8
“, [14, 23]) are disconnected from the scientific evidence base on how to effectively reduce distress or change behavior.”
BackgroundFlourishing at the end of life
Symons, X., Rhee, J. Y., Tanous, A., Balboni, T. A., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2024) · Metamedicine · doi:10.1007/s11017-024-09679-x · Cited by 10
“Rather, it seems that lifetime flourishing is partly determined by the narrative structure of one’s life, and a kind of closure or denouement at the conclusion of one’s life [28, 29].”
Salifu, Y. (2025) · BMC Palliative Care · doi:10.1186/s12904-025-01850-y · Cited by 8
Devuyst, P., Leiter, R. E., Milliken, A. B., Jenewein, J., Blum, D., & Seiler, A. (2025) · BMC Palliative Care · doi:10.1186/s12904-025-01876-2 · Cited by 8
“…deteriorating physical abilities; reduced health; the loss of one’s future, autonomy and independence; pain; and disruption in social roles, relationships, and personal engagement, all of which can contribute to increasing feelings of distress, depressive symptoms, and death anxiety [3, 4].”
Mack, J. W. (2018) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.31664 · Cited by 8
“Chochinov et al’s dignity therapy, for example, allows patients to engage in a life review through a guided interview and offers communication of the resulting narrative to loved ones.(7) Breitbart et al’s meaning-centered psychotherapy promotes reflection on life’s meaning through a series of psychotherapeutic sessio…”
BackgroundJulião, M., Chochinov, H. M., Samorinha, C., Soares, D. D. S., & Antunes, B. (2021) · Journal of Pain and Symptom Management · doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.02.018 · Cited by 8
Self-citationIntegration of spiritual care into palliative care service delivery models
Beaussant, Y., Nichipor, A. N., & Balboni, T. A. (2021) · doi:10.1093/med/9780198821328.003.0101 · Cited by 8
Perioperative Ängste und die Angst vor dem Tod
Mavrogiorgou, P., Zogas, H., Zogas, G., Juckel, G., & Heuer, J. F. (2023) · Die Anaesthesiologie · doi:10.1007/s00101-023-01267-3 · Cited by 8
Tuca, A., Viladot, M., Carrera, G., Llavata, L., Barrera, C., Chicote, M., Marco‐Hernández, J., Padrosa, J., Zamora, C., Grafiá, I., et al. (2024) · Cancers · doi:10.3390/cancers16091744 · Cited by 8
Psychotherapie in der palliativen Versorgung
Mehnert-Theuerkauf, A. (2015) · PPmP - Psychotherapie · Psychosomatik · Medizinische Psychologie · doi:10.1055/s-0035-1552758 · Cited by 8
[Dignity models: contributions for the end of life care].
Errasti‐Ibarrondo, B., Martínez García, M., Carvajal, A., & Arantzamendi, M. (2014) · PubMed · Cited by 8
Jobin, G. (2016) · Spiritual Care · doi:10.1515/spircare-2016-0137 · Cited by 8
Steinhauser, K. E., Stechuchak, K. M., Ramos, K., Winger, J. G., Tulsky, J. A., & Olsen, M. K. (2020) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951520001170 · Cited by 9
Xiao, J., Chow, K. M., Chen, J., Huang, X., Tang, S., Wang, G., & Chan, C. W. H. (2022) · Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.apjon.2022.100168 · Cited by 8
“22 min, less than the 418 approximately 1 h in similar studies in English-speaking countries.(11) 15 Despite the 419 short time, the participants’ responses to the questions were rich and deep around the 420 following aspects: a brief description of the family, memorable stories, important 421 roles, proudest achievem…”
BackgroundThe Meaning of Spirituality at the End of Life
Dose, A. M., Leonard, B. J., Peden‐McAlpine, C., & Kreitzer, M. J. (2014) · Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing · doi:10.1097/njh.0000000000000041 · Cited by 8
Clinical Considerations for Working with Patients with Advanced Cancer
Taylor‐Ford, M. (2014) · Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings · doi:10.1007/s10880-014-9398-z · Cited by 8
“Similarly, short-term life review (Ando, Morita, Akechi, & Okamoto, 2010; Ando, Morita, Okamoto, & Ninosaka, 2008), dignity therapy (Chochinov et al., 2005, 2011), and meaning making intervention (Henry et al., 2010; Lee, 2008) are theory-driven, brief interventions (\4 sessions) in which patients…”
BackgroundInfluentialThe promise of clinical interventions for hepatocellular carcinoma from the west to mainland China
Bai, M., Reynolds, N. R., & McCorkle, R. C. (2013) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951512001137 · Cited by 8
“…Rummans et al., 2006; Li et al., 2006; Steel et al., 2007; Bakitas et al., 2009; McCorkle et al., 2009; Ando et al., 2010; Breitbart et al., 2010; Chochinov et al., 2011; Breitbart et al., 2012), symptom distress (McCorkle et al., 1989; Rummans et al., 2006; Bakitas et al., 2009; McCorkle et…”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluentialArnaboldi, P., Oliveri, S., Vadilonga, V., Santoro, L., Maggioni, A., & Pravettoni, G. (2017) · ecancermedicalscience · doi:10.3332/ecancer.2017.722 · Cited by 9
The Use of Dignity Therapy Beyond Terminal Illness: A Case Report
Julião, M. (2018) · Psychosomatics · doi:10.1016/j.psym.2018.05.004 · Cited by 8
Costantini, A., Mazzotti, E., Serpentini, S., Piattelli, A., Scarponi, D., Benedetta, G. D., & Bellani, M. L. (2021) · Tumori Journal · doi:10.1177/0300891621992129 · Cited by 10
The Use of Palliative Sedation to Treat Existential Suffering: A Reconsideration
Portnoy, A., Rana, P., Zimmermann, C., & Rodin, G. (2014) · Philosophy and medicine · doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9106-9_4 · Cited by 8
Dignity and Meaning in Supportive Care
BREITBART, W. S. (2018) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951518000998 · Cited by 8
Self-citationPost-Intensive Care Syndrome—Mental Health
Hall-Melnychuk, E. L., Hopkins, R. O., & Deffner, T.-M. (2025) · Critical Care Clinics · doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2024.08.005 · Cited by 9
Rodriguez, A., Kellehear, A., Lanfranchi, V., McSherry, W., Tatterton, M. J., Watts, L., Yaziji, N., & Smith, J. (2023) · Illness Crisis & Loss · doi:10.1177/10541373231202842 · Cited by 7
“…controlled trials have explored its effectiveness compared to standard palliative care, with improved outcomes in anxiety, depression, quality of life, sadness, dignity and a sense of purpose (Chochinov et al., 2011; Hall et al., 2011; Juliao et al., 2014; Rudilla et al., 2016; Silva et al., 2019).”
BackgroundTelehealth dignity therapy for community-dwelling older adults: feasibility and potential efficacy
Fallon, J., Bhar, S. S., & Quinn, S. J. (2024) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2023.2298957 · Cited by 7
“…successfully completed the program and TDT resulted in similar statistics for time spent to deliver, and participate in TDT, compared to other dignity therapy studies (Bentley et al., 2020; Chochinov et al., 2011), suggesting that TDT is practical for community-dwelling older adults to complete.”
InfluentialModels for Spiritual Care in Hospice and Palliative Care
Kang, K. (2018) · The Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care · doi:10.14475/kjhpc.2018.21.2.41 · Cited by 10
“(28,29), and others have tested what has become known as meaning-centered psychotherapy and an intervention that supports patients’ dignity.”
BackgroundWeng, J., Pachman, D. R., Wild, E., & Ingram, C. J. (2022) · Palliative Medicine Reports · doi:10.1089/pmr.2022.0016 · Cited by 7
“A central question that some PCPs have incorporated into caring for patients with serious illnesses is the DCQ, which represents the essence of action elements of dignity conserving care (DCC): ‘‘What do I need to know about you as a person to take the best care of you that I can?’’(12) Patients value this question, a…”
BackgroundSchultz, M., Baziliansky, S., Mitnik, I., Ulitzur, N., Campisi‐Pinto, S., Givoli, S., Bar‐Sela, G., & Zalman, D. (2023) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951523000652 · Cited by 7
Distress and Psycho-Oncological Support for Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer
Travado, L., & Bastos, L. D. S. (2023) · Seminars in Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151555 · Cited by 9
Association between patient dignity and anxiety in geriatric palliative care
Mah, L., Grossman, D. L., Grief, C. J., & Rootenberg, M. (2013) · Palliative Medicine · doi:10.1177/0269216312463111 · Cited by 7
Kim, S. Y., Chang, Y., Do, Y. R., Kim, S. Y., Park, S., Jeong, H. S., Kang, J. H., Kim, S.-Y., Ro, J. S., Lee, J. L., et al. (2013) · Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention · doi:10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.1.373 · Cited by 7
“Although caregiving to patients with terminal illness is known to be a stressful burden to family members (Chochinov et al., 2011; Fairfield et al., 2012; Kimman et al., 2012; Tordoff et al., 2012), little attention has been focused on the impact of caregiving on employment status and work-related…”
BackgroundInfluentialDepression in Terminally Ill Patients: Dilemmas in Diagnosis and Treatment
Asghar‐Ali, A. A., Wagle, K. C., & Braun, U. K. (2013) · Journal of Pain and Symptom Management · doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.12.011 · Cited by 7
Rodrigues, M. G. D. R., Pautex, S., & Shaha, M. (2016) · Pilot and Feasibility Studies · doi:10.1186/s40814-016-0101-z · Cited by 7
“The main perceptions of patients are reconsideration and acceptance of the uniqueness of their lives, finding meaning, defining future projects, reconciliation with their past experiences [22], and the satisfaction of leaving a personal legacy [23].”
Life Story Themes: A Qualitative Analysis of Recordings From Patients Approaching the End of Life
Skinner, S. L., Bonnet, K. R., Schlundt, D. G., & Karlekar, M. B. (2019) · American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® · doi:10.1177/1049909119851717 · Cited by 7
Mindfulness: A New Paradigm of Psychosocial Care in the Palliative Care Setting in Southeast Asia
Tan, S. B., Capelle, D. P., Zainal, N. Z., Lim, E. J., Loh, E. C., & Lam, C. L. (2017) · Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore · doi:10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.v46n9p339 · Cited by 7
Sytsma, T. T., Bjork, L. B., Jenkins, S. M., Chatterjee, K., & Piderman, K. M. (2020) · Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling Advancing theory and professional practice through scholarly and reflective publications · doi:10.1177/1542305020913054 · Cited by 7
“Email: sytsma.terin@mayo.edu spiritual journeys (Chochinov et al., 2011; LeFavi & Wessels, 2003).”
Interim Analysis of Attrition Rates in Palliative Care Study on Dignity Therapy
Samuels, V., Schoppee, T. M., Greenlee, A., Gordon, D., Jean, S., Smith, V. M., Reed, T., Kittelson, S. M., Quest, T. E., O’Mahony, S., et al. (2021) · American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® · doi:10.1177/1049909121994309 · Cited by 7
Self-citationRudilla, D., Barreto, P., Oliver, A., & Galiana, L. (2014) · Medicina Paliativa · doi:10.1016/j.medipa.2014.09.005 · Cited by 7
Australian Palliative Care Nurses’ Reflections on Existential/Spiritual Interventions
Keall, R. M., Clayton, J. M., & Butow, P. N. (2014) · Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing · doi:10.1097/njh.0000000000000047 · Cited by 7
Eskigülek, Y., & Kav, S. (2024) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-024-08792-w · Cited by 6
Lee, J. L., & Jeong, Y. (2023) · Iranian Journal of Public Health · doi:10.18502/ijph.v52i1.11661 · Cited by 6
“Patients reported significant improvements in sense of dignity through dignity therapy (6, 16, 33).”
Influential
Metadata
- Authors
- Chochinov, H. M., Kristjanson, L. J., Breitbart, W., McClement, S., Hack, T. F., Hassard, T., & Harlos, M.
- Affiliations
- CancerCare Manitoba (CA)
- Edith Cowan University (AU)
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
- University of Manitoba (CA)
- Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Chochinov, Harvey Max
- Venue
- The Lancet Oncology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-08
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 753-762
- ISSN
- 1470-2045 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3185066
- OpenAlex
- W2041265397
- Cited by
- 775
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 40 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 112 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 60 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 45 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 32
- FWCI
- 38.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- The Lancet Oncology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Edith Cowan University Research Online (Edith Cowan University) (submittedVersion)
- eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
- Swinburne figshare (Swinburne University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- Canada Research Chairs
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- National Cancer Institute (R01CA102201)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Issues, ethics and legal aspects › Patient Dignity and Privacy
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Keywords
- dignity therapy, terminal illness, end-of-life care, palliative care, distress, quality of life, sense of dignity, spiritual well-being, client-centred care, patient experience, symptom burden, anxiety and depression, patient-centered care
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Australia, Canada, Counseling, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Palliative Care, Psychotherapy, Brief, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, United States, Treatment Outcome, Terminally Ill
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