Spiritual well-being and quality of life among Icelanders receiving palliative care: data from Icelandic pilot-testing of a provisional measure of spiritual well-being from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer

Abstract

Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life (QoL). This study examined the feasibility of the Icelandic version of a provisional European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) measure of spiritual well-being (SWB), and explored the relationship between SWB and QoL for palliative care patients in Iceland. Instruments from the EORTC were used: the provisional measure of SWB, which was undergoing pilot-testing in Iceland, and the EORTC QLQ C15-PAL. The correlation between scores was examined and descriptive statistics were used. Structured interviews explored feasibility. Thirty persons participated with average age 72 years. Belief in God or a higher power had the mean 3.33 on a 1-4 scale and the mean for overall SWB was 5.73 on a 1-7 scale. The mean score for global health/QoL was 59.4, physical functioning 48.5 and emotional functioning 78.9 on a 0-100 scale. Overall QoL was positively correlated with SWB showing r(30) = 0.386, P = 0.035. The participants found that answering the provisional EORTC QLQ-SWB prompted an emotional response and took the opportunity to discuss the subject. The provisional SWB measure was found relevant for the Icelandic context, and the study indicates that SWB and QoL are closely connected.

In our March 2017 issue of EJCC …

“…Health professionals have an important role in enhancing psycho-spiritual well-being, although we lack the evidence for specific interventions in this area. Asgeirsdottir et al (2017) have examined this issue, in an Icelandic population; in common with other studies they have demonstrated a positive association between markers of spiritual well-being and quality of life in cancer patients.…”

“…Asgeirsdottir et al. () have examined this issue, in an Icelandic population; in common with other studies they have demonstrated a positive association between markers of spiritual well‐being and quality of life in cancer patients.…”

Perception of cancer patients in palliative care about quality of life

“…In another study, conducted with 30 Icelanders patients, the quality of life was positively correlated to spiritual well-being (29) . Recent comprehensive review also identified that spiritual dimension is an essential component of palliative care to the patient, because it promotes well-being through relief of pain and other symptoms (30) .…”

Associations Between The Spiritual Well-Being (EORTC QLQ-SWB32) and Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) of Patients Receiving Palliative Care for Cancer in Cyprus

“…Research nurses were instructed to mark items that the patient asked for clari cation on or indicated their inability to answer. Because the EORTC SWB32 measure has been found to prompt re ection (19) , additional time was allowed for an open discussion on issues related to spirituality. Finally, the EORTC QLQ-C30 was completed by participants.…”