Group reminiscence among people with end-stage chronic lung diseases

Background. Reminiscence is a process of recalling long-forgotten memorable experiences and events through verbal interaction between the person elici ting memories and one or more persons. Reminiscence is considered an effect ive treatment for various groups of people, particularly the elderly. Aim. This paper describes an intervention study on group reminiscence inter vention for people with end-stage chronic lung diseases. The following hypo theses were proposed: (1) Depression in people with end-stage chronic lung diseases will decrease after participating in a reminiscence group. (2) Sel f-esteem in people with end-stage chronic lung diseases will increase after participating in a reminiscence group. (3) People with end-stage chronic l ung diseases will report increased well-being after participating in a remi niscence group. Methods. The research design was quasi-experimental, using Beck Depression Inventory and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Survey pre- and posttreatment, in add ition to conducting semistructured interviews after the treatment was finis hed and qualitatively evaluating outcomes of selected nursing diagnosis. A total of 12 patients participated, 10 women (mean age 70 years) and two men (mean age 86 years). The treatment was provided by two nurses to a group o f patients dwelling at a long-term unit for people with end-stage lung dise ases located in Iceland. A total of 13 group meetings were held, with 5-8 p articipants each time. Each group meeting had a preselected focus. It start ed with a short period of relaxation followed by a selected reading from a biography or from Icelandic literature and then the group discussion starte d, focusing on the topic of the day. Results. The first two hypotheses were not supported. The following themes support the third hypothesis: (a) enjoyment, (b) feeling well and (c) close ness and affirmation of self and others. Conclusions. The purpose of the study was partly achieved. Although hypothe ses one and two were not supported, the third was supported by the qualitat ive results, which clearly demonstrated that participation in the intervent ion increased well-being.