Importance of Communication Skills Training and Meaning Centered Psychotherapy Concepts among Patients and Caregivers Coping with Advanced Cancer

Normarie Torres-Blasco (), Lianel Rosario-Ramos, Maria Elena Navedo, Cristina Peña-Vargas, Rosario Costas-Muñiz and Eida Castro-Figueroa
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Normarie Torres-Blasco: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
Lianel Rosario-Ramos: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
Maria Elena Navedo: School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Cristina Peña-Vargas: Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
Rosario Costas-Muñiz: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
Eida Castro-Figueroa: School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: Latinos are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cancer and have specific existential and communication needs. Concepts within Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) interventions and Communications Skills Training (CST) assist patients in attending to these needs. However, Latino-tailored MCP interventions have yet to be adapted for advanced cancer patients and caregivers. A cross-sectional survey was administered to Latino advanced cancer patients and caregivers where participants rated the importance of the goals and concepts of MCP and CST. Fifty-seven ( n = 57) Latino advanced cancer patients and fifty-seven ( n = 57) caregivers completed the survey. Most participants rated MCP concepts as extremely important, ranging from 73.75% to 95.5%. Additionally, 86.8% favored finding meaning in their life after a cancer diagnosis. Participants (80.7%) also selected the concept of finding and maintaining hope to cope with their cancer diagnosis. Finally, participants found CST concepts and skills acceptable, ranging from 81.6% to 91.2%. Results indicate the acceptability of Meaning-Centered Therapy and Communication Skills Training among Latino advanced cancer patients and caregivers coping with advanced cancer. These results will inform the topics to be discussed in a culturally adapted psychosocial intervention for advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers.

Keywords: communication; meaning; advanced cancer; patients; caregiver; dyads; Latino (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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