Phenomenological Study of Psycho-Socio-Spiritual Healing in the Context of Chronic or Life-Threatening Illness

• INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR ALL SUBGROUPS IN STUDY POPULATION 1:

  1. Physician-diagnosed cancer or cardiac disease.
  2. Audio clarity subjects must be able to participate in oral interviews with sufficient speaking volume and clarity to enable clearly audible recording of the participant s verbal responses using a recorder. For example, subjects with severe hearing disability who nonetheless reads lip well are eligible for enrollment in this study.
  3. Willing to have audio recording during interview subjects must be willing to have the interview recorded with a recorder during oral interviews.
  4. English speaking and reading subjects must be proficient in English speaking and reading. The purpose of the speaking requirement is to aid interview transcription and coding processes. The purpose of the reading requirement is two-fold: (A) for completion of English text documents during enrollment, including written standard psychological exams, with minimal assistance, and (B) fluent reading of specific written text in English is necessary for the training of transcription software to perform automated transcription.
  5. Able to provide informed consent.

SUBGROUP-SPECIFIC INCLUSION CRITERIA IN STUDY POPULATION 1:

1. SFC participants who have completed healing program: have well-established, life-transforming positive psychosocio-spiritual outcome with onset > 6 months before interview
2. SFC-CUP participants who may be considered underserved in healthcare: have well-established, life-transforming positive psychosocio-spiritual outcome with onset > 6 months before interview
3. CRS patients recent cardiac event, beginning rehabilitation: have willingness to participate in a series of face-to-face or telephone interviews
4. CRS patients completed initial 36-session physical rehabilitation: have positive psycho-socio-spiritual outcome with onset after cardiac event
5. NIH CC PPCS patients terminal prognosis or GVHD: positive psycho-socio-spiritual outcome with onset after disease onset or diagnosis

INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR POPULATION 2:

1. Physician-diagnosed cancer.
2. Completion of at least one of the formal programs of palliative care (CC), healing (SFC), or rehabilitation (CRS or CC).
3. No requirement for positive psychological, social, or spiritual change of any duration.
4. English speaking and reading subjects must be proficient in English speaking and reading. The purpose of the speaking requirement is to aid interview transcription and coding processes. The purpose of the reading requirement is two-fold: (A) for completion of English text documents during enrollment, including written standard psychological exams, with minimal assistance, and (B) fluent reading of specific written text in English is necessary for the training of transcription software to perform automated transcription.
5. Able to provide informed consent.

SUBGROUP-SPECIFIC INCLUSION CRITERIA IN STUDY POPULATION 1:

1. SFC participants who have completed healing program: have well-established, life-transforming positive psychosocio-spiritual outcome with onset > 6 months before interview
2. SFC-CUP participants who may be considered underserved in healthcare: have well-established, life-transforming positive psychosocio-spiritual outcome with onset > 6 months before interview
3. CRS patients recent cardiac event, beginning rehabilitation: have willingness to participate in a series of face-to-face or telephone interviews
4. CRS patients completed initial 36-session physical rehabilitation: have positive psycho-socio-spiritual outcome with onset after cardiac event
5. NIH CC PPCS patients terminal prognosis or GVHD: positive psycho-socio-spiritual outcome with onset after disease onset or diagnosis

EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR THE STUDY POPULATION 1:

1. Age under 18 years. Subjects under 18 years of age are less likely to have a sufficient volume of life experience and maturity of perspective to address the full range and depth of psychological, social and spiritual issues that arise in the context of psycho-socio-spiritual healing.
2. Born with the illness or diagnosed before 17 1/2 years of age. Even if the subject is at least 18 years of age at the time of the interview, the scope of this study is focused on the adult psycho-socio-spiritual response to cancer (see exclusion criterion 1 above).
3. Emotional distress self-report (by the subject) that is equal to or above 3 as indicated on the Distress Thermometer instrument s 0-10 scale.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR POPULATION 2:

1. Age under 18 years. Subjects under 18 years of age are less likely to have a sufficient volume of life experience and maturity of perspective to address the full range and depth of psychological, social and spiritual issues that arise in the context of psycho-socio-spiritual healing.
2. Born with the illness or diagnosed before 17 1/2 years of age. Even if the subject is at least 18 years of age at the time of the interview, the scope of this study is focused on the adult psycho-socio-spiritual response to cancer (see exclusion criterion 1 above).