Effects of Rational-Emotive Hospice Care Therapy on Problematic Assumptions, Death Anxiety, and Psychological Distress in a Sample of Cancer Patients and Their Family Caregivers in Nigeria

Kay Chinonyelum Nwamaka Onyechi, Liziana N. Onuigbo, Chiedu Eseadi, Amaka B. Ikechukwu-Ilomuanya, Okechukwu Onyinye Nwaubani, Prince C.I. Umoke, Fedinand U. Agu, Mkpoikanke Sunday Otu and Anthonia N. Utoh-Ofong
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Kay Chinonyelum Nwamaka Onyechi: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
Liziana N. Onuigbo: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
Chiedu Eseadi: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
Amaka B. Ikechukwu-Ilomuanya: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
Okechukwu Onyinye Nwaubani: Department of Social Science Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
Prince C.I. Umoke: Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
Fedinand U. Agu: Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
Mkpoikanke Sunday Otu: Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Room 213, Harden Building, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
Anthonia N. Utoh-Ofong: Quality Assurance Department, National Examination Council, Minna 920211, Nigeria

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: This study was a preliminary investigation that aimed to examine the effects of rational emotive hospice care therapy (REHCT) on problematic assumptions, death anxiety, and psychological distress in a sample of cancer patients and their family caregivers in Nigeria. The study adopted a pre-posttest randomized control group design. Participants were community-dwelling cancer patients ( n = 32) and their family caregivers ( n = 52). The treatment process consisted of 10 weeks of full intervention and 4 weeks of follow-up meetings that marked the end of intervention. The study used repeated-measures analysis of variance for data analysis. The findings revealed significant effects of a REHCT intervention program on problematic assumptions, death anxiety, and psychological distress reduction among the cancer patients and their family caregivers at the end of the intervention. The improvements were also maintained at follow-up meetings in the treatment group compared with the control group who received the usual care and conventional counseling. The researchers have been able to show that REHCT intervention is more effective than a control therapy for cancer patients’ care, education, and counseling in the Nigerian context.

Keywords: cancer patients; death anxiety; family caregivers; psychological distress; rational emotive hospice care therapy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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