Effects of Rational-Emotive Hospice Care Therapy on Problematic Assumptions, Death Anxiety, and Psychological Distress in a Sample of Cancer Patients and Their Family Caregivers in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was a preliminary investigation that aimed to examine the effects of rational emotive hospice care therapy (REHCT) on problematic assumptions, death anxiety, and psychological distress in a sample of cancer patients and their family caregivers in Nigeria. The study adopted a pre-posttest randomized control group design. Participants were community-dwelling cancer patients (n = 32) and their family caregivers (n = 52). The treatment process consisted of 10 weeks of full intervention and 4 weeks of follow-up meetings that marked the end of intervention. The study used repeated-measures analysis of variance for data analysis. The findings revealed significant effects of a REHCT intervention program on problematic assumptions, death anxiety, and psychological distress reduction among the cancer patients and their family caregivers at the end of the intervention. The improvements were also maintained at follow-up meetings in the treatment group compared with the control group who received the usual care and conventional counseling. The researchers have been able to show that REHCT intervention is more effective than a control therapy for cancer patients’ care, education, and counseling in the Nigerian context.

A rational-emotive stress management intervention for reducing job burnout and dysfunctional distress among special education teachers

“…Considering the evidence that REBT is significantly effective in decreasing job burnout and distress at follow-up period, we would like to emphasize that several studies support the consistent effect of REBT in reducing burnout and psychological distress. [ 64 , 65 ] This study has added to the extant literature showing that REBT is an invaluable therapy for burnout and distress reduction in an occupational environment. Unhealthy emotional responses (in this case, burnout and distress) are capable of leading to reduced productivity and health problems.…”

Rational-emotive behavioral intervention helped patients with cancer and their caregivers to manage psychological distress and anxiety symptoms

“…In the Onyechi et al[4] study, the REBT model of psychotherapy developed by Dr Albert Ellis was adapted to help cancer patients and their caregivers in Nigerian outpatient settings. According to practitioners of the REBT theory, irrational beliefs such as awfulizing, catastrophizing, demandingness, low frustration tolerance, and self/others/life-downing beliefs are the root cause of emotional disturbance in healthy and sick people[6-8].…”

“…Thus, Onuigbo et al[8] observed that changing self-limiting beliefs, expectations, and attitudes are essential to a successful REBT intervention. Onyechi et al[4] innovatively adapted the REBT theory and called the intervention “rational-emotive hospice care therapy (REHCT).” As a randomized controlled trial, the study participants were assigned to one of two groups: intervention group (patients, n = 16; caregivers, n = 26) and usual care control groups (patients, n = 16; caregivers, n = 26). The intervention was manualized and delivered via group format.…”

“…The study revealed that the beneficiaries of the REHCT showed significant improvements on problematic assumptions, psychological distress, and death anxiety symptoms reduction in contrast to participants in the usual care control group. It is worthy to note that the study by Onyechi et al[4] provided evidence-based preliminary data and treatment modality for use by clinicians and researchers who work with cancer patients at advanced stage of the illness and their family caregivers and ushered in a novel direction in end-of-life care, cancer patient education, and oncology counseling practice in the Nigerian context.…”

“…Emerging evidence appears to boost our understanding of how psychological interventions can be adapted to palliative/hospice care settings to help improve the lives of patients with cancer as well as that of their caregivers in the developing regions. For instance, a new study on this subject by researchers at the University of Nigeria Nsukka found that rational-emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) adapted for use in a palliative/hospice care intervention was effective in helping to decrease the problematic assumptions, psychological distress, and death anxiety symptoms of patients with cancer and their caregivers[4]. The findings from the study suggest that this type of psychological intervention can be employed by clinicians in different regions to assist cancer patients and caregivers in managing cancer-related distress and death anxiety.…”