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. 2023 Aug 11:1-5.
doi: 10.1017/S1478951523001177. Online ahead of print.

Cost considerations for implementing dignity therapy in palliative care: Insights and implications

Raed Al Yacoub  1 , Andrea P Rangel  2 , Adriana Shum-Jimenez  1 , Amelia Greenlee  2 , Yingwei Yao  2 , Tasha M Schoppee  2   3 , George Fitchett  4 , George Handzo  5 , Harvey Max Chochinov  6 , Linda L Emanuel  7 , Sheri Kittelson  1 , Diana J Wilkie  2
Affiliations

Cost considerations for implementing dignity therapy in palliative care: Insights and implications

Raed Al Yacoub et al. Palliat Support Care. .

Abstract

Objectives: Despite the clinical use of dignity therapy (DT) to enhance end-of-life experiences and promote an increased sense of meaning and purpose, little is known about the cost in practice settings. The aim is to examine the costs of implementing DT, including transcriptions, editing of legacy document, and dignity-therapists' time for interviews/patient's validation.

Methods: Analysis of a prior six-site, randomized controlled trial with a stepped-wedge design and chaplains or nurses delivering the DT.

Results: The mean cost per transcript was $84.30 (SD = 24.0), and the mean time required for transcription was 52.3 minutes (SD = 14.7). Chaplain interviews were more expensive and longer than nurse interviews. The mean cost and time required for transcription varied across the study sites. The typical total cost for each DT protocol was $331-$356.

Significance of results: DT implementation costs varied by provider type and study site. The study's findings will be useful for translating DT in clinical practice and future research.

Keywords: Cost; Dignity therapy; Palliative care; Spiritual support.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ disclosure (Conflict of Interest) statement(s):

All authors have no relevant financial interest in this manuscript and no activities, affiliations or relationships to disclose. All authors have no published or submitted any related papers focused on the costs of the intervention model used in this study.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Overall flow of the patient through the study visits and procedures
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Summary of the Dignity Therapy Protocol
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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