The Meaning-Making intervention (MMi) appears to increase meaning in life in advanced ovarian cancer: A randomized controlled pilot study

Abstract

Objective: This pilot study aimed to provide supportive evidence for the acceptability and usefulness of the Meaning-Making intervention (MMi) in patients newly diagnosed with Stage III or IV ovarian cancer, and to provide estimates of parameters needed to design a full-scale study. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with 24 patients (12 experimental and 12 control) was conducted. Existential well-being (primary outcome), overall quality of life, distress, anxiety, depression and self-efficacy were measured. Results: Compared to the control group, patients in the experimental group had a better sense of meaning in life at one and three months post-intervention. Conclusion: The MMi seems a promising intervention for advanced cancer patients, and a full randomized controlled trial is warranted to further investigate its efficacy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.