Use of Dignity Therapy in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy to Increase Peaceful Awareness and Impact Goals of Care Decision-Making
Dignity Therapy is a well tolerated structured interview that helps patients reflect on who
they are, what is most important to them and what lessons they have learned through life.
For patients not receiving chemotherapy, Dignity Therapy gave patients more hope, more
meaning in their life, and helped their families. Researchers at Northwestern University
would like to see if it has the same effect in patients getting chemotherapy. We will also
see if the Dignity Therapy changes patient's understanding of their disease and their
medical preferences.
All study procedures will take place when participants come for a scheduled doctor's visit
or to receive chemotherapy. At the first visit participants will answer a questionnaire
taking approximately 15-30 minutes. Participants will then have a Dignity Therapy Session
approximately 1-2 weeks later. A second Dignity Therapy Session will be scheduled again in
another 1-2 weeks. Each study Dignity Therapy Session will take approximately an hour. One
to two weeks later a repeat questionnaire will be filled out. Finally, a third and final
questionnaire will be complete 4 weeks later.
Interventional
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Impact of Dignity Therapy
Measure the impact of dignity therapy on terminal illness acknowledgment and presence of peaceful awareness. Subjects will complete self-evaluation questionnaires at the point of registration and upon completing dignity therapy sessions. The impact will be determined by changes in the patient's baseline self-reported parameters.
at baseline, 1-2 weeks after completion of dignity therapy sessions, 1 month after completion of sessions
No
Max Vergo, MD
Study Director
Northwestern University
United States: Institutional Review Board
NU 09CC3
NCT01074385
April 2010
April 2015
Name | Location |
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Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Faculty Foundation | Chicago, Illinois 60611 |