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Implementing an expressive writing study in a cancer clinic
Nancy P Morgan1, Kristi D Graves, Elizabeth A Poggi
1Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA. npm2@georgetown.edu
The Oncologist
|March 11, 2008
Summary
Cancer patients can benefit from expressive writing. A brief, 20-minute writing exercise in a clinic setting improved their thoughts about illness and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Psychological Oncology
- Clinical Psychology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Expressive writing studies traditionally occur in laboratory settings.
- Anecdotal evidence suggests expressive writing may benefit cancer patients in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of a structured expressive writing task for cancer patients in a clinical waiting area.
- To assess the impact of expressive writing on patients' thoughts about their illness and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- Adult leukemia and lymphoma patients (n=71) completed a 20-minute writing task during clinic appointments.
- Assessments included baseline, postwriting, and 3-week follow-up measures.
- Feasibility was determined by task completion rates (88% writing, 56% follow-up).
Main Results:
- Participants reported positive responses to the writing task.
- Nearly half of patients reported changes in thoughts about their illness immediately postwriting (49.1%) and at 3-week follow-up (53.8%).
- Changes in thoughts about illness postwriting were linked to improved physical quality of life at follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Expressive writing is feasible and well-received by cancer patients in a non-laboratory clinical setting.
- A single, brief writing intervention can positively influence cancer patients' perspectives on their illness.
- Expressive writing shows potential for improving quality of life in cancer patients.
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