Group reminiscence among people with end-stage chronic lung diseases

Journal of Advanced Nursing 35(1), 79–87Group reminiscence among people with end-stage chronic lung diseasesBackground. Reminiscence is a process of recalling long-forgotten memorableexperiences and events through verbal interaction between the person elicitingmemories and one or more persons. Reminiscence is considered an effectivetreatment for various groups of people, particularly the elderly.Aim. This paper describes an intervention study on group reminiscence interventionfor people with end-stage chronic lung diseases. The following hypotheses wereproposed: (1) Depression in people with end-stage chronic lung diseases willdecrease after participating in a reminiscence group. (2) Self-esteem in people withend-stage chronic lung diseases will increase after participating in a reminiscencegroup. (3) People with end-stage chronic lung diseases will report increased well-being after participating in a reminiscence group.Methods. The research design was quasi-experimental, using Beck DepressionInventory and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Survey pre- and posttreatment, in additionto conducting semistructured interviews after the treatment was finished andqualitatively evaluating outcomes of selected nursing diagnosis. A total of 12patients participated, 10 women (mean age 70 years) and two men (mean age86 years). The treatment was provided by two nurses to a group of patientsdwelling at a long-term unit for people with end-stage lung diseases located inIceland. A total of 13 group meetings were held, with 5–8 participants eachtime. Each group meeting had a preselected focus. It started with a shortperiod of relaxation followed by a selected reading from a biography or fromIcelandic literature and then the group discussion started, focusing on the topicof the day.Results. The first two hypotheses were not supported. The following themessupport the third hypothesis: (a) enjoyment, (b) feeling well and (c) closeness andaffirmation of self and others.Conclusions. The purpose of the study was partly achieved. Although hypothesesone and two were not supported, the third was supported by the qualitative