title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. kay.onyechi@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Kay Chinonyelum Nwamaka
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Onyechi
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. liziana.onuigbo@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Liziana N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Onuigbo
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. chiedu.eseadi@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Chiedu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eseadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. amaka.ikechukwu-ilomuanya@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Amaka B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ikechukwu-Ilomuanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Science Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. okechukwu.nwaubani@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Okechukwu Onyinye
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Nwaubani
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. prince.umoke@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Prince C I
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Umoke
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. fedinand.agu@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Fedinand U
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Agu
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. mkpoikankeotu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mkpoikanke Sunday
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Otu
authors.affiliation: Quality Assurance Department, National Examination Council, Minna 920211, Nigeria. toniautoh@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Anthonia N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Utoh-Ofong
keywords: cancer patients; death anxiety; family caregivers; psychological distress; rational emotive hospice care therapy