A single-arm pilot of MyInspiration: a novel digital resource to support spiritual needs of patients undergoing cancer-directed surgery

This study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction associated with the MyInspiration intervention, a digital spiritual support tool for patients undergoing cancer surgery. Additionally, we evaluated changes in spiritual well-being and the ability to find meaning in their experience with cancer before and after the intervention.

This was a prospective, single-arm pilot study. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed by ratio of participants who completed all assessments among individuals who had signed consent forms. Satisfaction was assessed with 5 Likert-style questions around user experience. Patient spiritual well-being and finding meaning in their experience with cancer were measured at baseline and post-intervention.

Forty patients were enrolled, the majority of whom were female (80.0%) and diagnosed with breast cancer (52.5%), with an average age of 54.4 years (SD = 13.7, range 29.0–82.0). Regarding feasibility and acceptability, 76.9% of patients who consented to participate completed the full study protocol. In assessing satisfaction, 59% of patients were satisfied with the overall experience of MyInspiration. There was no difference in spiritual well-being pre-/post-intervention. There was a difference in pre (M = 1.95, SD = .95) and post (M = 2.23, SD = .86) scores relative to “finding meaning in the cancer experience” with a mean difference of 0.28 (p = 0.008).

MyInspiration was feasible and acceptable to patients, and the majority were satisfied with the tool. The intervention was associated with changes in patients’ ability to find meaning within their cancer experience. A randomized control trial is needed to evaluate the efficacy of the tool in a broader population of patients with cancer.