Spiritual needs and quality of life of patients with cancer

Abstract

Background and Aim:Information about spiritual needs and quality of life (QoL) is limited in Iranian cancer patients. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between spiritual needs and QoL among cancer patients in Iran.Methods:This correlational study included a convenience sample of 150 eligible cancer patients who were hospitalized in the oncology wards and outpatient clinics. Using two questionnaires; the spiritual needs survey and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire-C30 data were collected. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 19.Results:Our findings showed that the total mean score of spiritual needs was (64.32 ± 22.22). Among the categories, the lowest score belonged to “morality and ethics” component (2.18 ± 1.64), and the highest score belonged to “positivity/gratitude/hope/peace” component (15.95 ± 5.47). The mean score of QoL was (79.28 ± 19.20). Among the categories, the lowest score belonged to “global health status” component (8.44 ± 3.64), and the highest score belonged to “functional” component (36.57 ± 10.28). Pearson correlation coefficient showed that spiritual needs score positively correlated with QoL (r = 0.22; P = 0.006).Conclusion:The results of the present study suggest that information about the relationship between spiritual needs and QoL in patients with cancer. It should be improve QoL to meet spiritual need of these patients. In addition, the continuous and in-service education of cancer patients and nurses who work with them can be helpful in this area.

Spiritual Needs and Influencing Factors of Indonesian Muslims With Cancer During Hospitalization

“…Recently, an Indonesian study with 308 breast cancer inpatients found that spirituality was positively related with emotional well-being and affected physical discomfort by mediating their emotional condition (Nuraini et al, 2018). Other studies also pointed out that the unmet spiritual needs of cancer patients affect their health care decision making, decrease life quality, and make them dissatisfied with care (Astrow et al, 2018;Balboni & Balboni, 2019;Forouzi et al, 2017).…”

Evaluation of Health-Care Providers' Perception of Spiritual Care and the Obstacles to Its Implementation

“…However, the spiritual needs of patients with cancer are high, as reported by Forouzi et al . [14] Despite the fact that nurses are familiar with the importance of providing spiritual care, they are not able to comprehensively meet the spiritual needs of patients;[15] similarly, 96% of physicians believe in the important impact of spirituality on health, but these needs are not met[16] due to specific barriers, including nurse and physician perspectives and beliefs and values regarding spiritual care. Determining health-care providers’ perspectives on spiritual care is the first step to facilitating the provision of such care.…”

Translation, Cultural, and Clinical Validation of the Lithuanian Version of the Spiritual Needs Questionnaire among Hospitalized Cancer Patients

“…Each clinician is responsible for approaching the patient as a whole person and to provide relational, dignity-based, compassionate care [3]. Holistic care requires that spiritual needs of patients would be addressed and satisfied by healthcare professionals [17] in collaboration with social care and clergy staff and patient relatives.…”

“…For patients and caregivers, it is sometimes difficult to define what spiritual needs and what spiritual care does mean for them. Spiritual needs of cancer patients may have a wide spectrum of queries starting with religious rituals and talks with faith community members, followed by the relationship with family members and friends; gratitude, hope, and forgiveness; loving others; particular connection with nature in a religious or nonreligious way; or deep self-assessment and piece with oneself [13,14,15,16,17,18]. Assessment of the spiritual needs of patients is complicated because of the ambiguity and complexity of the concept of spirituality and difficulties in differentiating between the concepts of religion and spirituality, especially when assessing spirituality in patients who are not religious.…”