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Updated: May 28, 2026
14:32
Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Understanding posttraumatic growth in palliative care: a qualitatively driven mixed-methods study using patients'
Laura Galbiati1, Elsa Baader1, Emilie Bovet2
1Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
BMC Palliative Care
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Serious illness can foster posttraumatic growth (PTG). This study identified four psychological change profiles in palliative care patients, linking them to quality of life and PTG scores.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
Background:
- Serious illness can trigger positive psychological changes, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG).
- Previous research on PTG primarily focused on early-stage cancer patients and utilized the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI).
- The psychological mechanisms underlying PTG require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe psychological change profiles in palliative care patients and their characteristics.
- To explore the relationship between these psychological profiles, quality of life, and PTG.
- To utilize life narrative interviews for a deeper understanding of patient experiences.
Main Methods:
- A multi-method design incorporating semi-structured life narrative interviews (Biographic Narrative Interpretive Method - BNIM).
- Ideal-type analysis to identify distinct psychological change profiles.
- Thematic analysis to characterize these changes, alongside assessments using the PTGI and McGill Quality of Life-Revised questionnaire (MQOL-R).
Main Results:
- Four distinct psychological change profiles were identified: "Overcoming adversity" (n=6), "Resilience" (n=7), "Resigned acceptance" (n=3), and "Psychological suffering" (n=7).
- "Overcoming adversity" and "Resilience" profiles demonstrated higher PTGI scores compared to "Resigned acceptance" and "Psychological suffering".
- "Overcoming adversity," "Resilience," and "Resigned acceptance" profiles reported higher MQOL-R scores than the "Psychological suffering" profile.
Conclusions:
- Life narrative interviews offer an innovative approach to understanding patient psychological profiles, complementing traditional questionnaire-based methods.
- Narrative techniques can facilitate meaning-making and support patients' psychological adaptation to serious end-of-life illness.
- Understanding these psychological profiles is crucial for clinical support and enhancing quality of life in palliative care settings.
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