Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Feasibility, Acceptability, and Potential Effectiveness of Dignity Therapy for People with Motor Neurone Disease

    200492_131586_BB_MND.pdf (184.0Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Bentley, Brenda
    O'Connor, Moira
    Kane, Robert
    Breen, Lauren
    Date
    2014
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Bentley, B. and O'Connor, M. and Kane, R. and Breen, L. 2014. Feasibility, Acceptability, and Potential Effectiveness of Dignity Therapy for People with Motor Neurone Disease. PLoS ONE. 9 (5): e96888.
    Source Title
    PLoS ONE
    DOI
    10.1371/journal.pone.0096888
    ISSN
    1932-6203
    School
    School of Psychology
    Remarks

    This article is published under the Open Access publishing model and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Please refer to the licence to obtain terms for any further reuse or distribution of this work.

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/16858
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Background: Motor neurone disease (MND) practice guidelines suggest developing interventions that will promote hope, meaning, and dignity to alleviate psychological distress, but very little research has been done. This study begins to address this need by exploring the use of dignity therapy with people with MND. Dignity therapy is a brief psychotherapy that promotes hope, meaning and dignity, and enhances the end of life for people with advanced cancer. The aims of this study are to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of dignity therapy for people with MND. Methods/design: This cross-sectional feasibility study used a one-group pre-test post-test design with 29 people diagnosed with MND. Study participants completed the following self-report questionnaires: Herth Hope Index, FACIT-sp, Patient Dignity Inventory, ALS Assessment Questionnaire, ALS Cognitive Behavioural Screen, and a demographic and health history questionnaire. Acceptability was measured with a 25-item feedback questionnaire. Feasibility was assessed by examining the length of time taken to complete dignity therapy and how symptoms common in MND affected the intervention. Generalised linear mixed models and reliable change scores were used to analyse the data.Results: There were no significant pre-test post-test changes for hopefulness, spirituality or dignity on the group level, but there were changes in hopefulness on the individual level. The results of the feedback questionnaire indicates dignity therapy is highly acceptable to people with MND, who report benefits similar to those in the international randomised controlled trial on dignity therapy, a population who primarily had end-stage cancer. Benefits include better family relationships, improved sense of self and greater acceptance. Dignity therapy with people with MND is feasible if the therapist can overcome time and communication difficulties. Conclusions: Dignity therapy for people with MND is feasible and acceptable. Further research is warranted to explore its ability to diminish distress.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of dignity therapy for family carers of people with motor neurone disease
      Bentley, Brenda; O’ Connor, Moira; Breen, Lauren; Kane, Robert (2014)
      BACKGROUND: Dignity therapy is a brief psychotherapy that has been shown to enhance the end of life experience. Dignity therapy often involves family carers to support patients weakened by illness and family carers are ...
    • Is dignity therapy feasible to enhance the end of life experience for people with motor neurone disease and their family carers?
      Bentley, B.; Aoun, Samar; O'Connor, Moira; Breen, Lauren; Chochinov, H. (2012)
      Background: Development of interventions that address psychosocial and existential distress in people with motor neurone disease (MND) or that alleviate caregiver burden in MND family carers have often been suggested in ...
    • Dignity therapy: a psychotherapeutic intervention to enhance the end of life experience for people with Motor Neurone Disease and their family carers
      Bentley, Brenda (2014)
      Background: Dignity therapy has not been tested in people with MND and their families. Methods: This cross-sectional feasibility study used a one-group pre/post-test design with 29 people with MND and 18 family carers. ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.