Cost considerations for implementing dignity therapy in palliative care: Insights and implications

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Despite the clinical use of dignity therapy (DT) to enhance end-of-life experiences and promote an increased sense of meaning and purpose, little is known about the cost in practice settings. The aim is to examine the costs of implementing DT, including transcriptions, editing of legacy document, and dignity-therapists’ time for interviews/patient’s validation. Methods Analysis of a prior six-site, randomized controlled trial with a stepped-wedge design and chaplains or nurses delivering the DT. Results The mean cost per transcript was $84.30 (SD = 24.0), and the mean time required for transcription was 52.3 minutes (SD = 14.7). Chaplain interviews were more expensive and longer than nurse interviews. The mean cost and time required for transcription varied across the study sites. The typical total cost for each DT protocol was $331–$356. Significance of results DT implementation costs varied by provider type and study site. The study’s findings will be useful for translating DT in clinical practice and future research.