Developing a mind map–based life review program to improve psychological well‐being of cancer patients: a feasibility study

Abstract

| BACKGROUNDCancer patients often experience psychological distress. Untreated distress causes poor compliance with treatment, prolonged recovery time, poor quality of life, and even increased risk of suicide. 1,2 Life review is a process of recalling, evaluating, and integrating life experiences to facilitate the achievement of ego integrity in the final life stage. 3 Studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in psychological well-being among cancer patients. 4 However, there are still some difficulties encountered in practice. First, remote memories often fade from patients' mind, and they do not know how to start their stories. Second, life review emphasizes reviewing each life stage to ensure the important experiences would not be missed. 5 However, it is not uncommon to find patients move back and forth.Third, if one fails to resolve past conflicts, the remorse, depression, or despair may follow. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid to the abovementioned problems.A mind map is a tool for organizing information by visualization using branches, words, images, and colors. 6 It has been demonstrated to facilitate the learning process, promote the mind's natural ability to think, and organize one's thought orderly. 7 However, to date, no study has combined mind maps with a life review program.We hypothesized that mind maps, memory prompts, and legacy products of life review could address the aforementioned practical problems. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) develop a mindmap-based life review program (MBLRP) and (2) assess its feasibility. | METHODS | Design overviewThe MBLRP was developed and validated using a Delphi survey, and its feasibility was explored with a simple 1-group pretrial-posttrial and semistructured in-depth interviews. | ParticipantsFive participants were recruited from a general hospital during March to July, 2016, in Fuzhou, China. The inclusion criteria were (1) aged 18 or older, (2) diagnosed with cancer, and (3) aware of their diagnosis.The exclusion criteria were (1) currently taking anxiolytics and antidepressants, (2) receiving other psychotherapeutic treatment, and (3) having cognitive or verbal communication impairments. | InterventionThe MBLRP was developed based on Erikson 8 stages of psychosocial development, literature, brainstorm, and cancer patients' perceptions of life review. Erickson theory was adopted as a theoretical basis. The literature related to life review was searched to provide references. Our research team members brainstormed the existing life review programs and possible strategies. The feedbacks from 26 cancer patients participating in life review 8 were also taken into account. The draft MBLRP was validated by 8 experts with a 2-round Delphi survey. The panelists were (1) life review researchers, oncological doctors, palliative care nurses or social workers; (2) with bachelor degree or above; and (3) having at least 2-year working experience with cancer patients. They evaluated the appropriateness and relevance of each item independently and gave ...

Effects of a mind map‐based life review programme on psychospiritual well‐being in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A randomised controlled trial

“…The intervention group received both routine care and the MBLRP. The MBLRP has previously been introduced in detail (Chen et al, ). Briefly, it consisted of four sessions.…”

“…Third, the MBLRP involves looking at albums, listening to music, drawing mind maps and watching videos, which is more engaging than a purely text‐based life review. Our feasibility study has demonstrated that the MBLRP is enjoyable, acceptable and feasible for Chinese cancer patients and it potentially enhances their psychological well‐being (Chen et al, ). This study aimed to examine the effects of the MBLRP on psychological distress, hope, meaning in life and self‐transcendence, with a rigorously designed randomised controlled trial.…”

“…Despite its effectiveness, problems may still be encountered in life review practice (Chen et al, ). For example, early memories may have faded from a participant's mind, and they do not know how to begin their stories.…”

“…For example, early memories may have faded from a participant's mind, and they do not know how to begin their stories. To optimise a life review programme, our research team first developed a mind map‐based life review programme (MBLRP) in 2016 (Chen et al, ), based on the Ando programme. The MBLRP includes two types of mind maps as useful tools in a life review.…”

Terminal phase of malignant disease: Life or death?

“…То говори да пацијенти који болују од малигинитета, а третман излечења траје дужи временски период, имају три до четири пута већу шансу да развију психијатријски поремећај. 8 To још једном указује да опоравак од основне болести може бити одложен због придодатог менталног обољења, депресије, емоционалног осиромашења, апатије. 9 Тиме се још једном потврђује мишљење испитаника фокус групе који указју на значај осталих здравствених стручњака у збрињавању ових пацијената.…”