Life Review

Effect of Life Review on Quality of Life in Terminal Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Published: Apr 2020

Authors

Mei-Hua Huang MS, RN

Department of Nursing, Jhong Jheng Spine & Orthopedic Hospital; College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan

Ruey-Hsia Wang PhD, RN

College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan

Hsiu-Hung Wang PhD, RN, FAAN

College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan

Abstract

Background: Enhancing quality of life takes precedence in the terminal stage of a disease, when a cure is considered impossible and all alternative methods to prevent disease progression have been exhausted. Life review, involving appreciating accomplishments and resolving conflicts, is widely considered to be an effective approach to bringing peace to terminal patients.

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the effects of life review on quality of life in terminal patients.

Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, CEPS, and ProQuest databases were searched for original studies published between 2007 and July 2018. Studies that used experimental designs to assess the effects of life review on quality of life in terminal patients, involved patients aged >18 years, and were published in English or Chinese were considered eligible for inclusion. Studies that measured quality of life in individuals other than patients as well as unpublished papers or data were excluded. The search terms used included "life review," "end of life," "terminal or terminally ill," "advanced cancer," "palliative," "hospice," and "quality of life." The quality of each included study was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist.

Results: Six studies with 296 patients were included in the review. The participants in the included studies were from multiple countries. Life review was found to affect quality of life significantly (95% CI [0.147, 0.668], Z = 3.062, p < .05). The selected studies exhibited moderate heterogeneity (I = 42.407, p > .1).

Conclusions: Life review was found to affect quality of life significantly in the participants in the included studies. The feasibility and safety of applying life review interventions should be considered for terminal patients, and implementers of these interventions should be trained and qualified. Only a few studies in the literature have evaluated the effects of life review therapy in terminal patients. Further studies that use stricter selection criteria are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of the life review intervention before its adoption in clinical practice.

Access

Web link: https://journals.lww.com/jnr-twna/fulltext/2020/04000/effect_of_life_review_on_quality_of_life_in.12.aspx