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Enhancing meaning in palliative care practice: A meaning-centered intervention to promote job satisfaction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 October 2006

LISE FILLION ,
RÉJEANNE DUPUIS ,
ISABELLE TREMBLAY ,
GASTON-RENÉ DE GRÂCE  and
WILLIAM BREITBART
LISE FILLION
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Cancer Research Centre (CRC), Laval University, CHUQ, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
RÉJEANNE DUPUIS
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ISABELLE TREMBLAY
Affiliation:
Cancer Research Centre (CRC), Laval University, CHUQ, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
GASTON-RENÉ DE GRÂCE
Affiliation:
Laval University, School of Psychology, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
WILLIAM BREITBART
Affiliation:
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, New York, New York
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Abstract

Objectives: This article introduces a new meaning-centered psycho-educational group intervention, called Enhancing meaning in palliative care nursing, designed to support nurses providing palliative care. This intervention aims at increasing job satisfaction and quality of life, as well as preventing burnout in this particular population.

Theoretical frameworks: Its format and content are founded on the meaning-centered psychotherapy approach developed for terminally ill cancer patients (Breitbart, 2001; Greenstein & Breitbart, 2000). Frankl's existential therapeutic approach, called logotherapy, serves as the underlying theoretical framework to this intervention.

Development: Following the presentation of the context and the development of the intervention, its content is described.

Conclusion: A brief description of the ongoing randomized controlled trial testing the intervention is then provided. Finally, the way in which this intervention could contribute to nurses' quality of life and suggestions for future developments are briefly discussed.

Keywords

MeaningPalliative care nursingGroup interventionExistentialPsycho-education
Type
Research Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , December 2006 , pp. 333 - 344
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

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