Life Review Program Research Articles

Effects of a WeChat-Based Life Review Program for Patients With Digestive System Cancer: 3-Arm Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundPatients with digestive system cancer often experience psychospiritual distress. Life review is an evidence-based psychological intervention for patients with cancer, but the effects of digital life review programs are unclear, especially for patients with digestive system cancer.ObjectiveWe examined the effects of a WeChat-based life review program on the psychospiritual well-being of patients with digestive system cancer.MethodsThis study was a 3-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. Eligible patients with digestive system cancer were recruited from a university hospital in Fujian, China. They were randomized to a life review group and 2 control groups. All participants received routine care, and the life review group also received the 4-week WeChat-based life review program. Control group 1 also received a 4-week program of friendly visiting. Anxiety, depression, hope, and self-transcendence were measured at baseline and 2 days, 1 month, and 6 months after the intervention.ResultsA total of 150 participants were randomly allocated to the WeChat-based life review group (n=50), control group 1 (n=50), or control group 2 (n=50). The overall dropout rate was 10% (15/150), and 92% (46/50) of participants in the the life review group completed the intervention. Significant interaction effects for time and group membership were found for anxiety (P<.001), depression (P<.001), hope (P<.001), and self-transcendence (P<.001) at all follow-up time points. For anxiety and depression, the scores did not differ significantly between the life review group and control group 1 on day 2 (P=.80 for anxiety, P=.51 for depression), but the scores were significantly lower in the life review group at month 1 and month 6 (P=.02 for anxiety at both months 1 and 6; P=.003 and P<.001 for depression at months 1 and 6, respectively). Significant increases in hope and self-transcendence were revealed in the life review group compared to control group participants at all follow-up sessions.ConclusionsThe WeChat-based life review program was effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms and in improving the level of hope and self-transcendence among patients with digestive system cancer. Though friendly visiting can also help to relieve anxiety, its effects are short-term.Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-IOR-17011998; https://tinyurl.com/5acycpd4

Evaluation of a WeChat-based Dyadic Life Review Program for people with advanced cancer and family caregivers: A mixed-method feasibility study

Background: Cancer not only affects cancer patients’ quality of life but also their family caregivers’. A WeChat-based Dyadic Life Review Program was developed by our research team for people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers to improve their quality of life. Aim: To explore the feasibility and preliminary effects of the WeChat-based Dyadic Life Review Program on people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. Methods: A feasibility randomized controlled trial was conducted. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. A total of 47 advanced cancer patient-family caregiver dyads was recruited. Twenty-six dyads were randomized into the experimental group, and 21 dyads into the control group. The experimental group engaged in the WeChat-based Dyadic Life Review Program twice a week for 4 weeks. Results: For qualitative results, five themes emerged: (1) accepting and enjoying the program; (2) increasing communication with one another; (3) feeling grateful for each other; (4) providing emotional support to each other; and (5) releasing caregivers’ stress. In terms of quantitative results, quality of life (Z = −4.06, p < 0.001; t = 4.30, p < 0.001), family adaptability(Z = −3.01, p = 0.003; Z = −3.29, p = 0.001), and family cohesion(Z = −4.14, p < 0.001; Z = −3.88, p < 0.001) of people with advanced cancer and family caregivers were improved, and family caregivers’ care burden (t = −2.50, p = .018) was decreased in the experimental group compared with the control group post-test. Conclusions: The WeChat-based Dyadic Life Review Program is feasible and acceptable for people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. It has the potential to improve their quality of life, adaptability and cohesion, and reduce family caregivers’ care burden.

Psychosocial Reactions to Relocation to Nursing Homes in Chinese Older Adults

This study aimed to elicit psychosocial reactions to relocation to nursing homes from older adults’ perspectives with a qualitative interview design. Narratives from 23 Chinese nursing home residents from Fuzhou, China in a life review program were recorded, transcribed into sentences, and analyzed with the qualitative content analysis. It revealed five stages of psychosocial reactions to relocation to nursing homes as fear, struggle, compromise, acceptance, and contribution. The first stage resulted from negative labels attached to nursing homes, disconnection to the society, difficulties in establishing new relationships, and being abandoned by their families. The second stage described the behaviors of struggle: complain about family members, think of going back home, pray to have a change, and take action to leave. The third stage described the keys to compromise: choices between maintaining the harmony in family relation and companionship of relatives, choices between professional care and family care, and choices between costs and effects of family care and nursing home care. The fourth stage described how they accept nursing home life: accept the life and yet with worries, affirm benefits of living in nursing homes, and embrace the nursing home life. The last stage resulted from sense of ownership and giving full play to self-worth. This study generated new insights into the knowledge on psychosocial reactions to relocation to nursing homes and provided both family members and nursing home staff with a direction for how to promote a smoother relocation process.

When Confucius meets Erikson: An innovative life review program on Chinese seniors with probable dementia.

Before Erikson proposed the life stages, Confucius concluded an autobiographic review of his entire life in about 500 BC. Confucius' life stages may be closer to the life experiences of Chinese older adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the life review program on cognitive ability, life satisfaction, meaning of life, and ego integrity. The experiment was based on a single-group time-series design with a four-time test across 21weeks. The evoking materials were horticultural activities held in seven weekly sessions. The innovative life review program was in accordance with a combination of Confucius' and Erikson's life stages. Nine participants completed all sessions. There was a significant positive effect of time on participants' cognitive ability and meaning of life after the program. A combination of Confucius' and Erikson's life stages can be more advantageous for Chinese older adults than only Erikson's life stage.

Psychosocial reactions to relocation to a nursing home among Chinese older adults

ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe the psychosocial reactions to relocation to a nursing home from the perspective of older adults. MethodThis study applied a qualitative interview design. Narratives from 23 Chinese nursing home residents in a life review program in Fuzhou, China were recorded, transcribed into sentences, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. ResultsThe following psychosocial reactions to relocation to a nursing home emerged: fear, struggle, compromise, acceptance, and contribution. The fear resulted from negative labels attached to nursing homes, fear of disconnection to society, fear of difficulties in establishing new relationships, and fear of being abandoned by their families. The behaviors of ‘struggle’ were complaining about family members, thinking of returning home, praying for change, and taking action to leave. The keys to compromise were a choice between maintaining harmony in family relations and the companionship of relatives, a choice between professional care and family care, and a choice between the cost and effectiveness of family care and nursing home care. The process of acceptance included accepting life yet with worries, affirming the benefits of living in a nursing home, and embracing nursing home life. Contribution was mainly reflected in two aspects, a sense of ownership and bring into full play their self-worth. DiscussionsThis study generates new insights into knowledge on the psychosocial reactions to relocation to a nursing home. It provides both family members and nursing home staff with direction on how to ensure a smoother relocation process.

Effects of a Mind Map-Based Life Review Program on Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms on Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience psychological distress. The mind map-based life review program (MBLRP) offers the potential to reduce patients' negative emotions. However, its effects remain unknown. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of the MBLRP on anxiety and depressive symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. A randomized controlled trial with repeated measures was adopted. Eighty-four cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were recruited from a general hospital in Fujian, China. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 40) or a control group (n = 44). The participants in the experimental group received the MBLRP plus routine care. The participants in the control group received routine care. Outcomes were measured at baseline, on the second day, and at 4 weeks after the MBLRP. In terms of anxiety, multivariate test statistics showed significant differences in within-group (F = 11.343, P < .001), between-group (F = 8.873, P = .004), and interaction effects (group × time) (F = 19.595, P < .001). For the depressive symptoms, the results showed that the within-group effect (F = 12.385, P < .001), group effect (F = 18.000, P < .001), and group × time effect (F = 26.544, P < .001) were statistically significant, favoring the MBLRP experimental group. The MBLRP has the potential to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Further research is needed within larger more representative samples. The MBLRP is a nurse-led, nonpharmacological program that could be recommended for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and integrated into clinical practice.

Life review for Chinese older adults in nursing homes: cultural acceptance and its effects

A mixed-method study design was utilized in this study. Four nursing homes located in Fuzhou, China. Sixty-two older adults from four nursing homes were selected according to the criteria set for this study. Sixty-two older adults were randomly assigned to either the life review group or the control group, and 55 of them completed the study. Twenty-four participants took part in qualitative interviews after the life review program concluded. The Geriatric Depression Scale-15, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Purpose in Life Test were adopted to measure depression, self-esteem, and meaning in life, respectively. The findings indicated that life review can reduce depressive symptoms and may be effective at improving self-esteem and meaning in life among Chinese elderly people. More importantly, it revealed that cultural factors such as values, beliefs, and attitudes could interfere with participation in a life review. A culturally sensitive life review program could be an alternative approach to psychotherapy for promoting mental health in older adults.

Efficacy of Reminiscence Therapy on Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults

Both life review programs and horticulture are beneficial for older adults' cognitive functioning. The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive effects of reminiscence therapy. Participants older than 65 years in a day care center were recruited, and 14 of 24 participants were assigned to an experimental group. The intervention was based on Erickson's life stages and using plant lives as a metaphor for a human's life from birth to death. The intervention program was designed for 7 weeks of seven 1-hour sessions. The results demonstrated that the subscale scores of Orientation and Memory in the experimental group improved significantly. Total scores of the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment were significantly improved in the experimental group following the intervention. Reminiscence therapy has cognitive benefits for older adults. The Horticultural Life Review Program is recommended for promoting older adults' psychological health.

The effect of a community-based spiritual life review program on Indonesian elders’ resilience

This quasi-experimental, pre-/post-test study aimed to examine the effect of a community-based spiritual life review program on the resilience of elders residing in a disaster-prone area. Fifty-two participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from three villages in the Kutaraja sub-district in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. The participants' names were listed and then randomly selected by a random number generator. The experimental group underwent a community-based spiritual life review program, which included a review of their spiritual lives, the appreciation of feelings, affirmation by the religious leader, a reevaluation of their lives, and a reconstruction of their lives to recognize their memories and present feelings. The elderly resilience scores were evaluated four weeks after the program was implemented. The control group received the same program after the study was finished. The participants in the experimental group significantly improved their resilience levels after completing the program (p < .05). There was a slight increase in the resilience scores from the pre-test to the post-test in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < .05). Future studies should add implementation sessions and avoid photos that would induce participants' traumatic memories or experiences during the spiritual life review.

Developing a mind map-based life review program to improve psychological well-being of cancer patients: a feasibility study.

Developing a mind map-based life review program to improve psychological well-being of cancer patients: a feasibility study.

Évaluation des vertus adaptatives de la rétrospective de vie chez les personnes âgées : étude randomisée contrôlée

L’efficacité de méthodes psychothérapeutiques chez la personne âgée interroge nombre de praticiens et de chercheurs, et ce tant dans un contexte de prise en charge de troubles psychopathologiques que de préparation à sa propre finitude. Ainsi, l’objectif de cette recherche était d’éprouver les bénéfices de la rétrospective de vie auprès des personnes âgées, comme méthode psychothérapeutique particulièrement adaptée à cette population. À cet égard, une intervention randomisée et contrôlée fut entreprise (n = 11 dans le groupe intervention et n = 15 dans le groupe témoin). Les résultats ont révélé un effet significatif de l’interaction « groupe × temps » sur l’humeur dépressive indiquant que les scores de dépression du groupe ayant bénéficié de l’intervention en rétrospective de vie étaient significativement plus bas que ceux du groupe témoin. En revanche, aucune amélioration n’avait été constatée concernant les indicateurs du bien-être psychologique, à savoir, la satisfaction de vie, l’équilibre affectif, l’estime de soi, l’anxiété face à la mort et l’intégrité de soi. Ces résultats sont conformes à ceux déjà obtenus dans la littérature scientifique portant sur les effets de ce type de psychothérapies. Cependant, il demeure la nécessité de poursuivre les investigations pour asseoir leur pertinence et leur légitimité. The effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for elderly persons questioned number of researchers and practitioners, both in the context of treatment of mental disorders and preparation and acceptance of death. Since the seminal work of Butler in 1963 on the role of the reminiscence on successful aging, life review therapy becomes a very popular tool in the modern psychogerontology. The growing interest in the reminiscence is due to the universality of the mental activity of reminiscing. Indeed, as a natural phenomenon for all individual, reminiscence involves recollecting and remembering events personally experienced in the past. Reminiscence activities are often used spontaneously to share memories. The functions of the reminiscence are now well known and well documented. However, life review, besides the fact that it also refers to the evocation of personal past events, involves the analysis of these personal memorabilia. It is rather a dynamic process of looking back at one's life and reinterpretation of one's existence. It allows older people to assign value and meaning to one's life. Thus life review needs the presence of a therapist. Although, research on the uses of the life review among the elderly reveals its important potential for the promotion of the psychological adjustment (e.g., subjective well being, mood, ego integrity), additional studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of this psychotherapeutic function and its universality. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of the life review on depression and psychological well-being in the elderly by conducting a randomized controlled trial. Thus, 13 voluntary participants were randomly assigned to the life review group (n = 15) and the control group (n = 15, mean age = 83.47, S.D. = 7.57). However, only 11 participants completed the whole life review program (n = 11, mean age = 79.27, S.D. = 13.67). The inclusion criterion was participants with a score equal or above 24 in the Mini-Mental State (MMSE). The two groups were similar with regard to the age, educational level and mini-mental state scores. The life review program consisted of sixteen 90-minute sessions. All the five senses were stimulated by different materials to facilitate the emergence of autobiographical memories. Also, we used La Fontaine's Fables to stimulate remembrance. All life cycle stages were covered. Measurement instruments used in pre-program and post-program included the Geriatric Depression Scale (it is a 15-item scale), the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (it is a 10-item scale), The Death Anxiety Scale (it is a 5-item scale), the Ego Integrity Scale (it is a 10-item scale), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (it is a 5-item scale) and the Affect Balance Scale (it is a 10-item scale). Repeated measures analysis of variance (along with power analyses) revealed significant difference between the two groups in the change in scores for depression indicating that those in the intervention group had profited from the life review activities. On the other hand, no differences were found in the changes in scores for life satisfaction, self-esteem, death anxiety, ego integrity, and affect balance. These findings are in line with previous randomized, controlled studies evaluating the effectiveness of life review therapy. However, the modest sample size in the present study may have played a role in limiting the significance of some of the statistical comparisons performed. Thus, further research is needed to assess its long-term effects.

Effect of a Life Review Program for Chinese Patients With Advanced Cancer

Empirical data suggest that life review is an effective psychospiritual intervention. However, it has not been applied to Chinese patients with advanced cancer, and its effects on this population remain unknown. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a life review program on quality of life among Chinese patients with advanced cancer. In this prospective randomized controlled trial, a total of 80 patients were randomly assigned to the life review program group and the control group. The 3-weekly life review program included reviewing a life and formulating a life review booklet. Outcome data were assessed by a collector who was blinded to group assignment before and immediately after the program and at a 3-week follow-up. Significantly better scores in overall quality of life, support, negative emotions, sense of alienation, existential distress, and value of life were found in the life review group immediately after the program and at the 3-week follow-up. This study provides additional data on the potential role of a life review in improving quality of life, particularly psychospiritual well being; it also indicates that the life review program could enable Chinese patients with advanced cancer to express their views on life and death. The life review program offers advanced cancer patients an opportunity to integrate their whole life experiences and discuss end-of-life issues, which lays the ground for further active intervention in their psychospiritual distress. The program could be integrated into daily home care to enhance the psychospiritual well-being of Chinese patients with advanced cancer.

Development of a Community-Based Spiritual Life Review Program for Promoting Resilience of Elders Residing in Disaster-Prone Areas

Background: Nowadays disasters are a common occurrence in the world. The elderly are in a vulnerable condition in terms of disasters and need help to recover from the hardship caused if they are caught in such a disaster. Two significant contributors to elderly people having sufficient resilience to be able to deal with such disasters are spiritual support and social support. Purpose: To develop a program specifically for Muslim elderly in Indonesia for promoting resilience. Method: The processes of developing the program were conducted in 2011, and included a critical review of the literature, constructing the elements of the actual program, validating the contents of the program by three experts, revising the program according to the experts‟ suggestions, and finally pilot-tested the final version of the program on a group 12 elders in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Result: The program protocol established in this program includes five stages: (1) reviewing individual spiritual life experiences using memorable photos; (2) appreciating feelings among group members (3) re-evaluating the participant‟s life by looking to the group‟s album, (4) reconstructing the participants‟ life, and (5) affirming the six spiritual dimensions of the Islamic religion by the religious leader.

Effect of Life Review Writing on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

We examined the effects of engaging in the occupation-based intervention of life review through writing on expressed depressive symptoms as measured with the Geriatric Depression Scale in older adults residing in senior residences. The study design was a randomized controlled trial that took place in four senior residences in New York City. Forty-five participants (23 treatment, 22 wait-list control) ≥ 65 yr old participated in the 8-wk, once-weekly autobiographical writing workshop, Share Your Life Story (Sierpina, 2002). Depressive symptoms were significantly less prevalent for the treatment group than for the control group after the 8-wk life review program (repeated-measures analysis of variance p = .03). The results suggest that the Share Your Life Story writing workshop is an effective occupation-based intervention for occupational therapists to use with older adults who reside in senior residences.

Impact of the Life Review Program on Elders With Dementia

: Life review, a type of reminiscence therapy, assists participants to seek personal value in order to enhance social status and maintain a high quality of life (QOL). : This study aimed to examine the impact of an adaptive life review program (LRP) on perceived QOL in elders with mild to moderate dementia at a day care center and assess the effect, if any, of different cognitive impairment levels on intervention outcome. : This pre-experimental design used a single group of seven subjects for pretest and posttest and purposive sampling at a 2-week interval. Researchers administered to each subject a 10-day therapeutic recreation program modified from Tabourne's (1991) LRP. : Posttest results found no statistically significant improvements. However, subjects reported higher mean scores of perceived QOL as measured by the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. This finding indicated a trend of improving physical and mental health after the intervention. In addition, subjects with moderate cognitive impairment reported a higher improvement in physical health perception than did subjects with mild cognitive impairment. : Future research should include a larger sample size and a longer period of intervention and adopt multiple dimensions of QOL measurements to increase research rigor. Suggestions from this study can be used to improve the LRP.

Effects of life review program on emotional well-being of Korean elderly with Alzheimer’s disease

Emotional well-being is an important aspect of health for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, and self-esteem, depression, and life satisfaction have been identified as factors that comprise emotional well-being. As individuals undergo physical and psychological change associated with aging process, they tend to review their lives to achieve a sense of well-being in an effort to compensate for loss due to aging process. It evidences in the literature that the life review program (LRP) is an effective therapeutic recreation intervention to increase emotional well-being of elders with Alzheimer’s disease. With 17 Korean elders with Alzheimer’s disease, the findings of the current study showed some significant effects on Korean elderly with Alzheimer's disease in their emotional well-being. Although long-term effects of the LRP were questionable, the LRP was effective to make a therapeutic change in emotional well-being of Korean elderly with Alzheimer's disease.

Gains in Well-Being Achieved Through Retrospective-Proactive Life Review By Independent Older Women

This study investigated gains in psychological well-being achievedby nonclinical, community-dwelling older women through a retrospectiveproactive life review program. The procedure was astructured group experience of 14 weekly 2-hour sessions. The workshopgroup, 18 women aged 56 to 80, completed the program at anacademy for lifelong learning. A comparison group, 18 women aged 61 to88, were also academy students but not in the workshop program.No significant difference in mean scale scores was found on the Scales of Psychological Well-Being between the two groups atpretest, and no significant change in scores was found between pretestand posttest in the comparison group. In contrast, statisticallysignificant pretest-posttest increases in mean scores were found in the workshop group for all six of the scales (autonomy, environmentalmastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose inlife, self-acceptance), and 16 of the 18 participants anonymouslygave the program the top rating of “very helpful.”