Effects of dignity therapy on dignity and spiritual well-being in people with advanced cancer

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Bibliographic Data

ID15699417
AuthorsRomel Jonathan Velasco Yanez (0000-0002-6969-8318, Universidade Federal do Ceará, corresponding author), Ana Fátima Carvalho Fernandes (0000-0001-5110-6364, Universidade Federal do Ceará), Marcelo Valle de Sousa (0000-0002-2871-4430, Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio), Cinara Franco de Sá Nascimento Abreu (Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio), Roberta Costa Aquino de Alcantara (Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio), Maria Fernanda Brandão de Resende Guimarães (0000-0003-3865-3739, Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio), Meire Tássia da Cunha (Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio), Luciana Leite de Figueiredo Magalhães (0000-0001-7086-3088, Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio), Amalia Cláudia Facundo de Brito (Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio), Matheus Bianchi Nocrato Gomes (Universidade Federal do Ceará), N Medeiros (0000-0003-4415-395X, Universidade Federal do Ceará), Régia Christina Moura Barbosa Castro (0000-0002-0673-9442, Universidade Federal do Ceará), Judith Sixsmith (0000-0002-3290-1343, University of Dundee), Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva (0000-0002-2711-8346, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos), Débora Moreira Torres (Universidade de Fortaleza), Bridget Johnston (0000-0003-4051-3436, University of Glasgow), Carlos Laranjeira (0000-0003-1080-9535, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume13
Issue1
Pages1403-1403
Publication date2025-12-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2050-7283 • E-ISSN: 2050-7283
PublisherBioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1186/s40359-025-03838-y
PMID41419990
OpenAlexW4417514384
LanguageEN
References cited2

Dignity Therapy is a person-centered psychotherapeutic intervention designed for people approaching the end of life, fostering reflection on meaningful aspects of life and creating a testimonial legacy. Since 2011, randomized trials have demonstrated its value in addressing psychospiritual needs and preserving dignity in palliative care. However, no controlled studies have been conducted in Latin America to assess its effectiveness within local cultural contexts. This is a protocol for an exploratory, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial (1:1 allocation) with an open-label design. A total of 96 hospitalized individuals with advanced cancer will participate, all receiving care from the Palliative Care Service of a university hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil. The control group will receive usual palliative care, while the intervention group will receive the same care along with Dignity Therapy, delivered in three structured sessions. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (T1), at the end of the intervention (T2), and short-term follow-up (T3). The primary outcome will be the perceived dignity impact of the intervention, measured by the Dignity Impact Scale. Secondary outcomes will include spiritual well-being, hope, anxiety, depression, and distress. Perceptions of the intervention experience will also be collected from individuals in the intervention group. The primary analysis will be performed using linear mixed models. This trial will provide evidence on the feasibility and potential benefits of Dignity Therapy in supporting dignity and spiritual well-being among individuals with advanced cancer, while also examining how the intervention performs within distinct cultural contexts that may shape perceptions of dignity and end-of-life care. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC), RBR-8r3vzw5. Registered on 13 October 2025

Clinical trial · Dignity · Intervention (counseling · Palliative care · Protocol (science · Randomized controlled trial · Research design · Ethics in medical practice · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Patient Dignity and Privacy

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