Meaning in life after cancer: Validation of the Sources of Meaning Card Method (SoMeCaM) among participants in cancer rehabilitation

Project title

Meaning in life after cancer: Validation of the Sources of Meaning Card Method (SoMeCaM) among participants in cancer rehabilitation

Project manager

Victoria Holm Sørensen

Project description

Goal / Objectives:
To validate the statements on the SoMe-Cards for use in cancer rehabilitation, via exploration of how the patients understand the statements, and if their understanding reflects the theoretical intentions behind the statements.

Background:
Cancer patients have to deal with physical late- and side effects of treatment, psychological reactions and potential changes in their social life. A considerable group of cancer patients are struggling to create or re-create meaning. Addressing sources of meaning in life can support cancer patients in the existential rehabilitation process. However, although the relevance is recognized by clinical guidelines and health professionals, existential issues are rarely addressed. Sources of meaning in life can be addressed using the Sources of Meaning Card Method (SoMeCaM). The method aims to map and explore personal sources of meaning with one client in a one-hour session, and have not yet been validated for use with cancer patients.

Methods:
The undergraduate project is qualitative, and Framework analysis will be conducted on 12-15 cognitive interviews with cancer patients who have participated in rehabilitation at REHPA.

Focus:
To validate the statements on the SoMe-Cards in use with cancer patients in a rehabilitation setting.

Perspectives:
The validation work in this project will generate information, which can assist in organizing existential conversations and group sessions in municipalities and other relevant institutions.

The project is carried out under

InCoRE Research Group

Start date and expected end date

01.02.2022 - 31.08.2023

Main supervisor

Associate professor Nina Rottmann, Department of Psychology, SDU

Co-supervisor

Assistant professor Aida Hougaard Andersen, SDU

Project is carried out under

InCoRE and INSIDE Research Groups

Collaborators

REHPA, The Danish Knowledge Center for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care

Funding

The Danish Cancer Society Scholarship Grant

Keywords

SoMeCaM, cancer rehabilitation, meaning in life, existential needs, validation