Psychological flexibility and attitudes toward evidence-based interventions by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

Title
Psychological flexibility and attitudes toward evidence-based interventions by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients
Publication Date
2019-02-26
Author(s)
Pearlman, James R
Thorsteinsson, Einar B
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2065-1989
Email: ethorste@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:ethorste
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
PeerJ, Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.7717/peerj.6527
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/28615
Abstract
Objective: Declining a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or non-invasive ventilation (NIV) by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often contrary to advice provided by health-care-professionals guided by evidence-based principles. This study proposes relational frame theory (RFT) to offer a viable explanation of this phenomenon. Design: A total of 35 people (14 female, 21 male) aged between 34 and 73 years, with ALS, participated in this cross-sectional research. Main outcome measures: This research examined the predictive power and interaction effect of psychological flexibility (the fundamental construct of RFT) and psychological well-being on attitudes toward intervention options. Results: Participants with high psychological flexibility reported lower depression, anxiety, and stress, and higher quality of life. In addition, psychological flexibility was predictive of a participant’s understanding and acceptance of a PEG as an intervention option. Psychological flexibility was not found to be a significant predictor of understanding and acceptance of NIV. Conclusion: Although the criterion measure had not been piloted or validated outside of the current study and asks about expected rather than actual acceptance, findings suggest that applied RFT may be helpful for clients with ALS.
Link
Citation
PeerJ, v.7, p. 1-17
ISSN
2167-8359
Pubmed ID
30828499
Start page
1
End page
17
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International

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