Narrative therapy to relieve stigma in oral cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Aims and objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of narrative therapy in relieving stigma in oral cancer patients who underwent major surgical treatment. Background: Health‐related stigma compromises mental health and life quality in people with physical or mental abnormalities. Narrative therapy has been implemented to overcome stigma among populations in a diversity of disease states. However, the effectiveness of narrative therapy in relieving stigma among patients with oral cancer is not known. Design This study was a randomized controlled trial, in which 100 oral cancer patients were selected and randomly assigned to the 'narrative therapy' group, who received narrative therapy treatment in addition to standard care, and the 'control' group, who was provided standard care only. Methods: This research combined measurement of several questionnaires to evaluate stigma. Analysis of variance and paired t tests were employed for data analysis. Results: Findings in this study demonstrated that narrative therapy treatment effectively relieved oral cancer patients' sense of shame, reducing overall stigma and significantly improving self‐esteem and social relationships. Conclusions: Narrative therapy was demonstrated to be a promising therapeutic intervention for stigma relief in oral cancer patients. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Stigma is common among oral cancer patients, especially those who undergo major surgical resection. Psychological intervention is highly recommended in addition to postsurgical care.Narrative therapy might help relieve stigma among oral cancer patients. What this paper adds? Conventional postsurgical care did not improve oral cancer patients' psychological situation.A 7‐week intervention of narrative therapy treatment significantly reduced stigma and enhanced sense of self‐worth and social support among oral cancer patients. The implications of this paper: Narrative therapy can be clinically accepted as a therapeutic approach to assist oral cancer patients with stigma after major surgery.Tailored approaches, including patient‐customized methods, should be encouraged in conducting narrative therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]