Innovating end-of-life psychological care to promoting dignity and purpose: a case study of meaning of life therapy via videoconferencing to promote dignity and purpose

Meaning of Life Therapy (MLF) has shown to be a promising psychoexistencial intervention for patients receiving palliative care and their caregivers. Even though MLF exhibited utility in promoting meaning in life and dignity, the COVID-19 pandemic made its face-to-face administration unsuitable but also underscored the need to investigate digital alternatives. For this reason, and considering developments in digital mental health interventions, this single case study aims to investigate videoconferencing as an alternative methodology, involving one patient with terminal cancer and his wife. The patient was submitted to MLT through videoconference. Semi-structured interviews post-intervention were also carried out with patient and caregiver. The qualitative analysis underlines the feasibility of videoconferencing in the implementation of the MLT, visible in the psychological adjustment of the patient. It is also important to reflect on the characteristics of the digital therapeutic setting, in terms of establishing the therapeutic relationship and the underlying ethical aspects.