Meaning-making and psychological adjustment to cancer: development of an intervention and pilot results.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an intervention that uniquely addresses the existential impact of cancer through meaning-making coping strategies and to explore the intervention's impact on psychological adjustment.


METHODS
Descriptive, qualitative approach to develop the intervention; one-group pre- and post-test design to pilot test the intervention.


METHODS
Patients' homes or ambulatory oncology clinics affiliated with a university health center in eastern Canada.


METHODS
18 participants who were newly diagnosed in the past three months (n = 14), had completed treatment (n = 1), or were facing recurrence (n = 3) of breast (n = 10) or colorectal (n = 8) cancer.


METHODS
Data were collected during interviews using a prototype intervention for trauma patients, and content was analyzed on an ongoing basis to fit the needs of the cancer population. Pretest and post-test questionnaires were administered to determine the intervention's effect.


METHODS
Meaning-making intervention (MMI), patients' background variables, disease- or treatment-related symptoms, and psychological adjustment.


RESULTS
The MMI for patients with cancer consisted of as many as four two-hour, individualized sessions and involved the acknowledgment of losses and life threat, the examination of critical past challenges, and plans to stay committed to life goals. At post-test, participants significantly improved in self-esteem and reported a greater sense of security in facing the uncertainty of cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that meaning-making coping can be facilitated and lead to positive psychological outcomes following a cancer diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The MMI offers a potentially effective and structured approach to address and monitor cancer-related existential issues. Findings are useful for designing future randomized, controlled trials.
Lee
Virgina
V
School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. virginia.lee@mail.mcgill.ca
Cohen
S Robin
SR
Edgar
Linda
L
Laizner
Andrea M
AM
Gagnon
Anita J
AJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016896:Treatment Outcome