Using Religious Songs as an Integrative and Complementary Therapy for the Management of Psychological Symptoms Among African American Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Integrative and complementary oncology therapy has generally focused on yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and cognitive-behavioral techniques. However, religious songs are an important strategy used among older African American cancer patients. Religious songs can be readily integrated into cancer care. The incorporation of religious songs into spiritually based support groups and other integrative and complementary therapies might enhance health outcomes among this medically underserved cancer population.

Cuidado espiritual

“…Trabajar en la educación acerca del proceso de muerte es imprescindible para la sociedad actual por el efecto inmediato y positivo que tiene sobre las necesidades espirituales que van surgiendo de este proceso (57). Varios estudios permiten conocer la falta de tratamiento espiritual para pacientes con necesidades paliativas en el mundo, aun teniendo en cuenta que la percepción de los síntomas espirituales y la creencia en un dios entre las diversas culturas son semejantes a las revisadas en la población occidental (41,45).…”

“…En la revisión de las referencias, se destaca la importancia de las terapias integradas ya mencionadas y de algunas prácticas espirituales como el uso de canciones religiosas. Al respecto, un estudio menciona que la religión es una fuente importante de apoyo ante situaciones de enfermedad, pues se ha demostrado que fomenta la curación, la comodidad y la fortaleza ante síntomas como la depresión, la tristeza, la ansiedad, la preocupación y el temor (41). Otro estudio, por ejemplo, documentó cómo la Iglesia ha promovido el ejercicio físico, y con este la salud mental y espiritual en mujeres de Australia (42).…”

Rigor in Qualitative Methods: An Evaluation of Strategies Among Underrepresented Rural Communities

“…For example, when the focus of my research was to understand the social support experiences not emphasized in existing research, sampling strategies included a consideration for demographic and theoretical variations analytically important to coping and social support experiences (Hamilton & Sandelowski, 2004; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). During the conduct of research with African Americans, I purposefully recruited participants who varied on demographic variables (person factors), that is, gender, income, education, and marital status (Hamilton, Best, Wells, & Worthy, 2018; Hamilton, Moore, Johnson, & Koenig, 2013; Hamilton, Sandelowski, Moore, Agarwal, & Koenig, 2013; Hamilton, Worthy, Kurtz, Cudjoe, & Johnstone, 2016). In addition to demographic variations, I also purposefully recruited participants based on theoretical (situational) variations.…”

“…Variations in demographics and clinical variables promote expanded understandings of the patterns of supportive exchanges among network members as well as the types of social support involved in those exchanges (Hamilton & Sandelowski, 2004; Sandelowski, 1995). As interviews progressed, demographic variations were expanded to include type of stressful life event, proximity to family (whether individuals lived alone or not) and geographic location (rural vs. urban Appalachian geographic locations; Hamilton et al, 2018; Hamilton, Moore, et al, 2013; Hamilton, Sandelowski, et al, 2013; Hamilton et al, 2016). Finally, during data analysis those additional variations that became apparent were prominent cultural influences that included racism, religion, and spirituality.…”

“…This fine-tuning during sampling and data analysis also might be necessary to fully capture and saturate the data. For example, in a study to understand the ways in which religious songs are used in response to stressful life events, initial sampling strategies included targeting those individuals with known religious affiliations and having had the experience of the loss of a loved one or life-threatening illness (Hamilton et al, 2018; Hamilton, Moore, et al, 2013; Hamilton, Sandelowski, et al, 2013; Hamilton et al, 2016). My assumption was that these were stressful life events that would result in participants’ use of a religious song as a coping strategy.…”