Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38051407›Full record

Trial reportSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2023

Meaning and Purpose (MaP) therapy in advanced cancer patients: a randomised controlled trial.

David W Kissane, Irene Bobevski, Jane Appleton, Genevieve Murphy, Anna Laverty-Wilson, Pauley Kessel, Natasha Michael, Richard Chye, Carrie Lethborg

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
4.1field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Development and content validation of spiritual care e-book for Chinese breast cancer women undergoing chemotherapy.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Post-Traumatic Growth in Adult Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review of Psychological Factors, Predictors, and Interventions.International journal of psychology : Journal international de psychologie · 2025
    Article
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

David W KissaneSchool of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, Australia. David.kissane@monash.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5930-4573
Irene BobevskiSchool of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Jane AppletonSchool of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Genevieve MurphyDepartments of Palliative Care, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Anna Laverty-WilsonDepartment of Palliative Care, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Pauley KesselSchool of Clinical Sciences, Monash Health and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Natasha MichaelSchool of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Richard ChyeSchool of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Carrie LethborgCentre for Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia.
Cabrini Hospital · AUSt Vincent's Hospital Sydney · AUMonash Health · AUUniversity of Tasmania · AU

Funding

Cabrini Foundation Doreen Johnson Oncology Research Grant
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeWe aimed to examine the efficacy of Meaning and Purpose (MaP) Therapy in promoting posttraumatic growth and meaningful life attitudes (choices and goal seeking) in people living with advanced cancer.

methodsPatients with a prognosis ≥ 1 year were stratified across two sites and randomised to receive MaP therapy and regular oncology/palliative care (Intervention) or usual care (Control). They completed measures at baseline (t0), post-intervention (12 weeks, t1) and 12 weeks later (t2). Our primary outcome was posttraumatic growth (PTGI); secondary outcome measures included life attitudes (LAPR), spiritual wellbeing (FACIT-Sp), anxiety, demoralization and depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12618001751268, 7 January 2019.

resultsWe consented 107 from 404 eligible patients (26.5%) and randomised 55 to MaP Invention (35 completing t1, 25 t2) and 52 to Control (32 completing t1, 25 t2). Fidelity of the intervention was sustained. PTGI mean scores were significantly higher post-intervention on analysis by covariance (Cohen's d = 0.7 at t1 & d = 0.5 at t2). Secondary measures were significant, including LAPR (d = 0.4) and FACIT-Sp (meaning subscale d = 0.4; total d = 0.4). Participants completing six sessions achieved more noteworthy effect sizes.

conclusionThis brief, structured individual intervention shows promise for sustaining sense of coherence, meaning and choices in life despite living with advanced cancer.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsAnxietyAnxiety DisordersHumansPalliative CareQuality of LifeExistentialMeaning-centered psychotherapyOncologyPosttraumatic growthPsycho-oncologyPsychotherapyRandomised controlled trialSpiritual wellbeing

Identifiers

PMID38051407
OpenAlexW4389348826

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.