Spiritual Care for Leukemia

This trial aims to determine if spiritual care sessions can be integrated into the treatment plan for patients hospitalized with leukemia. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard care or special guided spiritual sessions (SCORE Intervention). The trial seeks adults diagnosed with acute leukemia (AML or ALL) who are currently receiving initial inpatient treatment and can read and understand English. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore the potential benefits of spiritual care in enhancing overall well-being during treatment.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on spiritual care sessions for leukemia patients.

Research has shown that spiritual care sessions, such as the SCORE Intervention, are generally safe and well-received by patients. This trial aims to integrate spiritual care into leukemia treatment. Spiritual care does not involve drugs or physical treatments, so it lacks the physical side effects associated with medications or surgeries. Instead, it offers emotional and spiritual support, which is typically safe for participants.

Researchers are excited about the SCORE Intervention for leukemia because it focuses on spiritual care, an aspect that's often overlooked in traditional treatments. While standard leukemia treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapies directly attack cancer cells, SCORE aims to enhance patients' overall well-being and resilience by addressing their spiritual needs. This approach is innovative because it seeks to complement existing medical treatments, potentially improving quality of life and emotional health during the challenging journey of cancer treatment.

Research suggests that spiritual care might improve the well-being of patients with leukemia. Although direct evidence does not show that spiritual care leads to better leukemia outcomes, studies have indicated that holistic approaches, including emotional and spiritual support, can enhance the quality of life for those with serious illnesses. This trial includes a Spiritual Intervention Arm, where participants receive a study-specific spiritual care intervention, and a No Intervention Arm for comparison. This support may help patients manage stress and improve mental health during treatment. The specific spiritual care tested in this trial is unique, so its effects will be directly measured. Overall, adding spiritual care to treatment plans is seen as a way to potentially enhance patients' well-being during medical treatment.²⁶⁷⁸⁹