title: A Chaplain-led Spiritual Life Review Pilot Study for Patients with Brain Cancers and Other Degenerative Neurologic Diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study was designed to describe changes in spiritual well-being (SWB), spiritual coping, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with brain cancer or other neurodegenerative diseases participating in a chaplain-led spiritual life review interview and development of a spiritual legacy document (SLD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible participants were enrolled and completed baseline questionnaires. They were interviewed by a board-certified chaplain about spiritual influences, beliefs, practices, values, and spiritual struggles. An SLD was prepared for each participant, and one month follow-up questionnaires were completed. Two cases are summarized, and spiritual development themes are illustrated within a spiritual development framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 27 patients completed baseline questionnaires and the interview; 24 completed the SLD, and 15 completed the follow-up questionnaire. Increases in SWB, religious coping, and QOL were detected. The majority maintained the highest (best) scores of negative religious coping, demonstrating minimal spiritual struggle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the challenges of brain cancers and other neurodegenerative diseases, participants demonstrated improvements in SWB, positive religious coping, and QOL. Patient comments indicate that benefit is related to the opportunity to reflect on and integrate spiritual experiences and to preserve them for others. Research with a larger, more diverse sample is needed, as well as clinical applications for those too vulnerable to participate in longitudinal follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Coordinator of Research, Chaplain Services; Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA;
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Piderman
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Health Services Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA;
authors.forename: Carmen Radecki
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Breitkopf
authors.affiliation: Statistician III, Biostatistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA;
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Mayo Medical Student, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA;
authors.forename: Terin T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Euerle
authors.affiliation: Staff Chaplain, Chaplain Services, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA and.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lovejoy
authors.affiliation: Mayo Medical Student, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA;
authors.forename: Gracia M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kwete
authors.affiliation: Consultant, Medical Oncology; Professor of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Aminah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jatoi
keywords: Brain cancer; chaplain; life review; neurodegenerative disease; resiliency; spirituality