Clinical trial · Interventional
Blessing Stem Cells to Improve Spiritual Well Being and Quality of Life for Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Pilot Study on the Impact of Spiritual Blessing Stem Cells in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 26, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260926-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
This clinical trial evaluates the impact of blessing stem cell products before infusion on spiritual well-being and quality of life for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stem cell transplantation represents a transformative medical and personal journey for patients and families. For stem cell transplantation (SCT) recipients, higher levels of spiritual well-being correlate with reduced anxiety and depression, greater hope, and improved emotional stability. Because quality of life often declines after SCT, spiritual support becomes crucial. This trial uses a culturally adaptable, standardized blessing that is personalized to align with each patient's faith tradition or personal belief system that may improve spiritual well-being and quality of life for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Conditions
Conditions (2)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm | Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
| Malignant Solid Neoplasm | Malignant Solid Neoplasm | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
Interventions
Interventions (3)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Health Record Review | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Spiritual Therapy | Procedure | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Survey Administration | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (1)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Supportive care (spiritual blessing of stem cells)
- description
- Patients complete a pre-transplant discussion with the chaplaincy staff to discuss spiritual preferences. Patients choose whether to receive a chaplain-led blessing of their stem cells before infusion. The blessing intervention will consist of a standardized core script delivered immediately prior to stem cell infusion with optional additions that are tailored to the patient's stated spiritual or religious tradition. The spiritual leader performing the blessing will be matched, when possible, to the patient's spiritual tradition. For patients who do not identify with a faith tradition, the chaplain will offer a meaning-centered blessing focused on hope, healing, and gratitude for the transplant process.
- interventionNames
- Other: Electronic Health Record Review
- Procedure: Spiritual Therapy
- Other: Survey Administration
Primary outcomes (2)
- measure
- Quality of life
- timeFrame
- From baseline up to 180 days post-transplant
- description
- Assessed using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant. Will be compared between intervention and control groups over time using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) or linear mixed effects models, with group × time interaction terms.
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults (≥ 18 years) undergoing autologous or allogeneic SCT * English proficiency (verbal and written) * Willing to engage in spiritual care discussions Exclusion Criteria: * Patients opting to have blessings performed privately (non-study chaplain) * Cognitive impairment or psychiatric instability * Pregnant individuals - this exclusion is not related to the blessing intervention but reflects the fact that pregnant individuals are not eligible for SCT under standard oncology transplant protocols due to the high-dose chemotherapy and potential teratogenic effects
References
Publications (0)
Data not yet available