Cost considerations for implementing dignity therapy in palliative care: Insights and implications

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Health Economics

Background:

• Dignity Therapy (DT) is used to improve end-of-life experiences and foster meaning.
• The practical costs of implementing DT in real-world settings are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the costs associated with implementing Dignity Therapy.
• To identify cost components including transcription, legacy document editing, and therapist time.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a six-site randomized controlled trial.
• Utilized a stepped-wedge design with chaplains or nurses delivering DT.

Main Results:

• Mean transcription cost was $84.30 (SD=$24.0), taking 52.3 minutes (SD=14.7).
• Chaplain-led DT interviews were more costly and time-consuming than nurse-led.
• Total cost per DT protocol ranged from $331-$356.
• Significant variation in transcription costs and time was observed across study sites.

Conclusions:

• Dignity Therapy implementation costs are influenced by the type of provider and the specific clinical site.
• These findings are valuable for the broader adoption of DT in clinical settings and for guiding future research endeavors.