Effectiveness of meaning in life intervention programme in young and middle-aged cancer patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 14; no. 10; p. e082092
• Main Authors: Wang, Shuman, Xu, Wenjie, Zhu, Yu, Zheng, Mimi, Wan, Hongwei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 16.10.2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety - therapy; Cancer therapies; China; Consent; Depression - therapy; Female; Humans; Intervention; Male; Mental disorders; Mental health; Middle age; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - psychology; Neoplasms - therapy; Nursing; ONCOLOGY; Patients; Post-traumatic growth; Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological; Prospective Studies; Protocols & guidelines; Psychological Distress; Psychotherapy; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trial; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Software; Young Adult; China; ONCOLOGY; Randomized Controlled Trial; Protocols & guidelines
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082092

IntroductionDiminished levels of meaning in life can have a range of detrimental effects on cancer patients, including heightened anxiety, depression, psychological distress, reduced quality of life and, in severe cases, even thoughts of suicide. Notably, young and middle-aged cancer patients often exhibit even lower levels of meaning in life compared with their counterparts in other age groups. The primary objective of this study is to formulate a meaning in life intervention programme and assess its efficacy in enhancing the meaning in life and other relevant indicators among young and middle-aged cancer patients.Methods and analysisA prospective, parallel-group randomised controlled trial will be conducted. Eighty-eight young and middle-aged cancer patients will be randomised into either the intervention or control group. The intervention group will receive 4 week, six-session, group-based meaning in life intervention programme, while the control group will receive treatment as usual. The primary outcome is meaning in life, and secondary outcomes are post-traumatic growth and psychological distress. These indicators will be assessed at baseline, on completion of the intervention and again 2 months following its conclusion.Ethics and disseminationThe trial has received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Hospital (2202-53-04-2301A-2310B). The study results will be shared through peer-reviewed journals and conferences.Trial registration numberChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200060672.