Feasibility and Efficacy of Narrative Approach for Spiritual Well-Being of Terminally Ill Patients at Home Hospice - Abstract
The primary aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of the narrative approach for terminally ill patients at home hospice. The secondary aim was to examine the efficacy of the narrative approach on spiritual wellbeing, physical condition, life satisfaction, and hope. Twelve patients agreed to participate in the research, in which patients narrated their thinking or feeling along with some questions in two sessions of approximately 60 minutes each. The patients completed the Functional Assessment Chronic Illness-Spiritual (FACIT-Sp) and the FACT-physical, the Life Satisfaction scale, and the Hope scale. The results showed that 1)10patients completed the narrative approach (feasibility rate 83%), 2) the FACIT-Sp and the Hope score increased, the FACT-physical decreased, and the Life Satisfaction score did not change, although there was no statistical significance. The FACTI-Sp score was at the same level of the standard score and the Life Satisfaction score was higher than the standard score. These facts suggest that the narrative approach for terminally ill patients at home hospice may be feasible, and it may improve spiritual well-being, physical status, and hope.