Background: There is a growing awareness of religiosity and/or spirituality (R/S) as a possible resource in coping with cancer. Gender differences in religious coping have not yet been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to analyze differences in religious coping between men and women with cancer and compare the impact of R/S on anxiety and depression symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Divisions of Hematology and Oncology of the Medical University of Vienna. In total, 352 patients with a cancer diagnosis, who regarded themselves as religious and/or spiritual, were interviewed at Vienna's university hospital with standardized questionnaires. To answer our research questions, we used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Benefit Through Spirituality/ Religiosity (Benefit) questionnaire, and collected demographic characteristics. Results: Of 689 cancer patients, 51% (352) regard themselves as religious and/or spiritual. Women with cancer tend toward R/S more significantly (57%) than men (45%). In patients with an R/S belief, women scored higher in almost all items of the Benefit questionnaire and showed higher prevalence of anxiety ( p < 0.001) and depression than men. Regarding the socioeconomic characteristics, more women were widowed, and had significantly lower income than men. Conclusions: The results show a significant gender gap concerning the importance of R/S for cancer patients and the effect on psychological well-being. Women in this study were more religious/spiritual than men and scored higher on anxiety and depression. We support the notion that the gender perspective is essential and can contribute to better patient care in identifying gender-specific concerns.
To explore how medical students—the doctors of tomorrow—reflect upon meeting the spiritual needs of their patients, and whether they have reflected on their own religious or spiritual beliefs, or not. The study also investigates to what extent the students feel comfortable with addressing spiritual issues in their patient care, and whether they feel this is beyond their role as medical doctors.A self-administered questionnaire was developed. The survey was administered in teaching classes at the medical university of Vienna. One thousand four hundred (836 women and 564 men) students responded, laying the foundation for a thorough statistical analysis.59.5% of the students had reflected on their own belief concepts, 21.9% consider themselves religious, and 20.1% see themselves as spiritual individuals. 75.6% of the students agreed with the statement that religious conviction/spirituality might have an effect on how cancer patients cope. 85.9% would consider talking with their patients about religious/spiritual issues if patients wish to do so. 86.3% would involve chaplains if they feel it is necessary.The results of this study suggest that future doctors want to see the patient in a wider scope than the bio-psycho-social one, by including the meta-dimension of transcendence.
Objective: We aimed to investigate whether (1) psychological and social indicators influence survival in patients diagnosed with cancer or haematologic malignancies when important biological aspects are controlled for, (2) psychological, social and biological indicators can be utilised to design one collated index for survival, usable in clinical practice to identify patients at risk of shorter survival and to improve personalised healthcare provision.
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