Dignity therapy in cancer palliative care: meaning and resignification of life-a qualitative study

To understand how dignity therapy (DT) helps patients in the search for meaning and resignification of life.

Qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study with DT interviews with 30 patients hospitalised in a palliative care unit. Narratives were analysed, categorised through Bardin's content analysis and complete speeches originated into legacy documents.

Categories were adjusted to reflect the essence of each Dignity Therapy Question Protocol question, identifying nine main themes: biography and significant life experiences, moments of vitality and personal fulfilment, personal legacy and meaningful memories, significant roles and personal accomplishments, key achievements and personal pride, important messages and reflections for loved ones, hopes and dreams for loved ones, life lessons and wisdom to share, and advice and guidance for loved ones. Subcategories related mainly to the importance of family and friends, childhood memories, achievements related to graduations, professional career, and material assets, births, parenting, child education and values transmission, gratitude, forgiveness, faith and spirituality, search for meaning in illness, the significance of the present moment, impermanence, social and artistic interactions, farewells, cause-and-effect actions, empathy and character.

This study identified intrinsic topics and unique insights, providing an understanding of how DT helps restore or redefine purpose and meaning amid life-threatening illness.