Spirituality in childhood cancer care

Abstract

To deal with the suffering caused by childhood cancer, patients and their families use different coping strategies, among which, spirituality appears a way of minimizing possible damage. In this context, the purpose of the present study was to analyze the influence of spirituality in childhood cancer care, involving biopsychosocial aspects of the child, the family, and the health care team facing the disease. To accomplish this purpose, a nonsystematic review of literature of articles on national and international electronic databases (Scientific Electronic Library Online [SciELO], PubMed, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature [LILACS]) was conducted using the search terms “spirituality,” “child psychology,” “child,” and “cancer,” as well as on other available resources. After the search, 20 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final sample. Our review showed that the relation between spirituality and health has lately become a subject of growing interest among researchers, as a positive influence of spirituality in the people’s welfare was noted. Studies that were retrieved using the mentioned search strategy in electronic databases, independently assessed by the authors according to the systematic review, showed that spirituality emerges as a driving force that helps pediatric patients and their families in coping with cancer. Health care workers have been increasingly attentive to this dimension of care. However, it is necessary to improve their knowledge regarding the subject. The search highlighted that spirituality is considered a source of comfort and hope, contributing to a better acceptance of his/her chronic condition by the child with cancer, as well as by the family. Further up-to-date studies facing the subject are, thus, needed. It is also necessary to better train health care practitioners, so as to provide humanized care to the child with cancer.

Relational and Spiritual Coping Among Emerging and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

“…These findings were a unique contribution, as previous researchers found that individuals with spiritual beliefs often used adaptive coping behaviors, such as reframing, thinking positively, expressing their emotions, and having a support system (family/friends, spiritual community; Sira et al, 2014;Vespa et al, 2011). Adaptive coping among survivors in the current sample also included positive reframing and emotional and instrumental support (from others), which is congruent with previous findings on coping with chronic health conditions (Clark & Hunter, 2019;Delgado-Guay et al, 2011;Lima et al, 2013;Rosa et al, 2019;Schneider & Mannell, 2006;Vespa et al, 2011). Spirituality's contribution to coping could be viewed as the combination of seeking meaning/purpose in life and the ability to find comfort, hope, and acceptance of the cancer diagnosis (Cavendish et al, 2004;Clark & Hunter, 2019;Lima et al, 2013;Schneider & Mannell, 2006).…”

“…Spirituality has been reported to contribute to adaptive coping and is associated with health care behavior/decision making, meaning building, and reframing, as noted in previous research on coping with chronic illnesses, including cancer (Clark & Hunter, 2019;Lima et al, 2013;Rosa, Hope & Matzo, 2019;Schneider & Mannell, 2006;Sira et al, 2014;Vespa, Jacobsen, Spazzafumo, & Balducci, 2011). Spirituality is a developmental construct, which is considered to be a part of one's identity linking personal life philosophy, beliefs system, and values (Arnett, 2007;D'Agostino et al, 2011).…”

“…Coping with medical crises often requires a number of resources to manage a variety of stressors. A resource that often helps manage stressors and promote patients' ability to cope with cancer is spirituality (Lima et al, 2013;Puchalski, 2012;Schneider & Mannell, 2006;Sira, Desai, Sullivan, & Hannon, 2014). Spirituality is defined as a universal human phenomenon with an assumption of wholeness of individuals and their connectedness to a higher being, which integrates the quest for meaning and purpose in life (Cavendish et al, 2004).…”

Spiritual Needs of Brazilian Children and Adolescents with Chronic Illnesses: A Thematic Analysis

“…Spiritual needs when met allow for the expression of feelings, concerns, purpose and hope (Petersen, 2014). The strengthening of relationships and beliefs for better coping with the disease are other benefits of attending to spiritual needs (Lima et al, 2013;Petersen, 2014).…”

“…Despite this, families who live with chronicity seek new perspectives and possibilities within the limitations of the disease (de Araújo et al, 2011), through reflection on their own experience and perception of well-being (Spurr et al, 2013). The child may use spirituality to find answers to the meaning and purpose in life, to improve coping processes, and as a resource to strengthen hope (Leite, García-Vivar, Neris, Alvarenga, & Nascimento, 2019); Compas et al, 2012;Lima et al, 2013).…”