Faezeh Bakhshalizadeh Irani; Shahriar Shahidi; Abdolrahim Hazini
Abstract
Objective: The way an individual approaches death may influence deeply how he or she approaches life so that it can lead to both authenticity and meaningfulness as well as hopelessness, nihilism and inanity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the attitude of these patients towards death ...
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Objective: The way an individual approaches death may influence deeply how he or she approaches life so that it can lead to both authenticity and meaningfulness as well as hopelessness, nihilism and inanity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the attitude of these patients towards death and life meaning. Method: In this research, a qualitative method with a descriptive phenomenological approach was employed. From amongst all cancer patients receiving palliative care for advanced cancer in Firoozgar Hospital and Ala cancer control and prevention center, eleven patients were chosen according to targeted sampling method. Data collection was used by using semi-structured interview and data interpretation was done in Collizi method. Findings: The results of this study was categorized in six main clusters; “Death as transit to a new world”, “Death as a bridge towards light”, “Death as passing through a safe haven”, “Death as losing contact with worldly belongings”, “Death as the beginning or the end of a pathway” and “attitude towards life” and 13 sub clusters. Conclusion: Difficult life with illness and imminent death leads to the loss of meaning in patients and also affects their attitude towards death. Hence, thanatopsis and logo therapy are necessary to find the meaning of life and resolve existential conflicts in these patients.
Zahra Abdekhodaie; Shahriar Shahidi; Mohammad Ali Mazaheri; Laily Panaghi; Vahid Nejati
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of existential based spiritual intervention on quality of life and life meaning in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: Qualitative single case method with multiple baseline was applied. 5 patients were selected through purposive ...
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Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of existential based spiritual intervention on quality of life and life meaning in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: Qualitative single case method with multiple baseline was applied. 5 patients were selected through purposive convenience sampling and were interviewed. Intervention was developed in 12 topics and applied weekly in two one-hour sessions. The process and mechanisms of changes were evaluated using the quality of life and life meaning scales. After obtaining of baseline in pretest stage, the participants were evaluated during six stages treatment process and two stages follow-up. The data were analyzed via visuals inspection, reliable change index (RCI) and improvement percentage strategies. Findings: The percentage of improvement was calculated in two scales and at three stages for five participants. The average improvement rate in the intervention stage was 114.32% for the Meaning-in-Life and 79.4% for Quality of Life, and in the follow-up stage it was obtained 185.5% for the Meaning-in-Life and 123.28% for Quality of Life. Intervention has positive and stable effect on Quality and Meaning of Life, but the subscales changed in different manner. Conclusion: Existential based spiritual intervention, which had affections on different level in meaning life, enhanced the patients’ quality of life in physical and psychological level. So this psychological intervention will be useful for MS patients.
stress
Zahra Abdekhodaie; Shahriar Shahidi; Mohammad Ali Mazaheri; leyli panaghi; vahid Nejati
Volume 6, Issue 24 , March 2018, , Pages 7-30
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate quality psychological strategies which were applied by MS patients. Method: A phenomenological approach was adopted using a qualitative method and 15 participants were chosen none randomly on the basis of their availability. Deep interviews were carried out ...
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Objective: This study aimed to investigate quality psychological strategies which were applied by MS patients. Method: A phenomenological approach was adopted using a qualitative method and 15 participants were chosen none randomly on the basis of their availability. Deep interviews were carried out with fifteen MS patients and detailed information obtained from these interviews was analyzed using the Colizzi and the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methods. Result: Result of the present study indicated that two major categories in applied psychological strategies can be identified. Each of which was consist of several sub-categories. These were labeled as follows: 1. Defense mechanisms; “pathologic”, “neurotic”, “immature” and “mature”. 2. Coping strategies; “problem-focused coping”, “emotion-focused coping” and “coping based on spirituality and religion”. Conclusion: Use “denial” as a most common defense mechanism with the “neurotic” and “immature” defense mechanism lead to reduce the level of individual ability in dealing with disease. Although each of the three categories of coping strategies was used but often the participants use the emotion-focused coping. In most common case, using of “denial” as a defense mechanism was viewed in relation with “seeking social support” and “avoidance – escape” as a coping strategy. Adaptive coping and religion/ spirituality strategies was used in patients with higher levels of self-integrity.
