Professionally perceived effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for existential suffering of terminally ill cancer patients

Background: Although integrated care for existential suffering is an essential part of palliative care, little is known about its concept and efficacy as perceived by professionals. A questionnaire survey was carried out to 1) explore the underlying structure of psychosocial interventions recommended by specialists, 2) identify the professionally perceived effectiveness of each intervention for specific existential distress, and 3) examine the effects of specialty on their recommendations. Methods: A questionnaire with three scenarios representing terminally ill cancer patients with uncertainty-related anxiety, guilt feelings, and dependency-related meaninglessness was mailed to 701 Japanese psychiatrists, 118 psychologists, and 372 palliative care nurses. Results: A total of 456 responses were obtained (response rate = 38%). Recommended psychosocial interventions were classified into six subcategories: ’a supportive-expressive approach,fl’providing comfortable environments,fl’meaning-centered approach,fl...