Examining the role of social support and spirituality on the general health perceptions of Hispanic cancer survivors

Coping Religioso/Espiritual e Qualidade de Vida dos Sobreviventes de Câncer Cinco Anos após o Transplante de Células-Tronco Hematopoiéticas

  Introdução: O transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas é um tratamento complexo, com potencial de cura, no entanto, apresenta risco significativo de complicações graves e consequente comprometimento na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde. Diante desse cenário, é necessário que a equipe de saúde reconheça as demandas a que os pacientes estão expostos, e as estratégias de enfrentamento utilizadas, a fim de promover intervenções que objetivem a melhora da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde e a diminuição dos desconfortos decorrentes do diagnóstico e tratamento. Objetivo: Correlacionar o uso do coping religioso/espiritual com a qualidade de vida após cinco anos da realização do transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas. Método: Estudo analítico e longitudinal, com 55 pacientes em um hospital de referência para o procedimento na América Latina. Coleta de dados de 2013 até 2021, com os questionários Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Bone Marrow Transplantation e Religious/Spiritual Coping Scale. Correlações entre as variáveis pelo coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. Resultados: Trinta pacientes foram a óbito antes de completar cinco anos de tratamento. A qualidade de vida apresentou melhores índices no quinto ano (116,1/148). Houve maior uso do coping religioso/espiritual positivo (3,15/5,00). Observou-se correlação significativa negativa entre os escores de qualidade de vida (-0,624/p<0,00) e coping/religioso espiritual negativo. Conclusão: Reconhecer a multidimensionalidade do constructo qualidade de vida, incluindo o domínio espiritual, poderá auxiliar o paciente no enfrentamento da doença e do tratamento.

Religiosity, Emotions and Health: The Role of Trust/Mistrust in God in People Affected by Cancer

Trust in God implies the conviction that God looks after a person’s own interests. The first evidence of a relationship between this construct and people’s psychological and emotional health dates back several centuries. However, the literature on this is limited, especially for people with physical health conditions, such as cancer. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the relationships between trust/mistrust in God, social support and emotions in people affected by cancer. The sample consisted of 177 women and men in Spain diagnosed with cancer. The instruments used were the Trust/Mistrust in God Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were performed to compare several explanatory models for the dependent variables: positive and negative emotions. The results show significant relationships between all variables. It was observed that, when trust/mistrust in God is included in the model, only mistrust in God predicts both types of emotions. In addition, both social support and some sociodemographic variables help to predict the dependent variables. This study shows that valuing the religiosity and spirituality of oncology patients in healthcare settings can have a significant positive impact on the health of these individuals. Moreover, it represents an important approach to the study of trust/mistrust in God in the context of a traditionally Catholic country.

Characterizing Health Literacy Among Spanish Language-Preferring Latinos Ages 50-75

BACKGROUND

Cultural background, language, and literacy are factors that may affect access, healthcare utilization, and cancer screening behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to characterize health literacy among Spanish-preferring Hispanic/Latino individuals ages 50-75 and examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics, health beliefs, and health literacy.

METHODS

Participants self-identified as Hispanic/Latino, preferring health information in Spanish, were ages 50-75 years old, at average risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), not up to date with CRC screening, and enrolled in a CRC screening education intervention trial. Sociodemographic characteristics, health beliefs, and health literacy (i.e., difficulty understanding written health information and confidence completing health forms) were assessed at baseline. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Fifty-three percent of participants reported either sometimes having difficulty or always having difficulty with written health information, and 25% reported always asking for help or being not so confident in completing health forms. Univariate predictors of adequate health literacy for written health information were lower cancer worry and lower religious beliefs. Higher educational attainment predicted confidence in completing health forms.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the need for interventions that address health beliefs and health literacy among Hispanic/Latino patients who have low confidence in completing written forms and difficulty understanding written information and reinforce the use of plain language and salient design features when developing patient education materials.

Religion and spirituality: their role in the psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer and subsequent symptom management of adjuvant endocrine therapy

PURPOSE

Distress from being diagnosed with breast cancer can impact a woman's decision to continue taking adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET). The purpose of this study is to explore how religion and/or spirituality influence women's psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer and subsequent symptom management among women on active AET.

METHODS

Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with breast cancer survivors (n = 19) from California and Texas. Interview questions prompted discussion about AET and how women adjusted to a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment with AET. Interview transcripts were analyzed with a deductive grounded theory approach, and an inductive constant comparison approach was used to identify the sources of religion and spirituality.

RESULTS

Religion supported women in their psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer by offering them a sense of purpose and meaning in life. It helped women make sense of their AET treatment as they persisted with it despite experiencing adverse side-effects. Spirituality played a prominent role in women's mental and physical wellbeing by facilitating positive and calm attitudes, which lessened women's fear during their cancer diagnosis and treatment.

CONCLUSION

We identified that religion and/or spirituality helps women with their adjustment to breast cancer and influences their continued use and management of side-effects from AET.

IMPLICATIONS FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

This study illustrates the importance of developing meaning-centered interventions that harness religion and spirituality to help women cope with AET. Our findings support the development of interventions that work to enhance AET persistence among breast cancer survivors.

Calidad de Vida: a systematic review of quality of life in Latino cancer survivors in the USA

BACKGROUND

Cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanics/Latinos. Thus, understanding health-related quality of life (HRQOL) needs among this diverse racial/ethnic group is critical. Using Ferrell's multidimensional framework for measuring QOL, we synthesized evidence on HRQOL needs among Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, for English language articles published between 1995 and January 2020, reporting HRQOL among Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors in the USA.

RESULTS

Of the 648 articles reviewed, 176 met inclusion criteria, with 100 of these studies focusing exclusively on breast cancer patients and no studies examining end-of-life HRQOL issues. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups, Hispanics/Latinos reported lower HRQOL and a higher symptom burden across multiple HRQOL domains. Over 80% of studies examining racial/ethnic differences in psychological well-being (n = 45) reported worse outcomes among Hispanics/Latinos compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors were also more likely to report suboptimal physical well-being in 60% of studies assessing racial/ethnic differences (n = 27), and Hispanics/Latinos also reported lower social well-being relative to non-Hispanics/Latinos in 78% of studies reporting these outcomes (n = 32). In contrast, reports of spiritual well-being and spirituality-based coping were higher among Hispanics/Latinos cancer survivors in 50% of studies examining racial/ethnic differences (n = 15).

DISCUSSION

Findings from this review point to the need for more systematic and tailored interventions to address HRQOL needs among this growing cancer survivor population. Future HRQOL research on Hispanics/Latinos should evaluate variations in HRQOL needs across cancer types and Hispanic/Latino subgroups and assess HRQOL needs during metastatic and end-of-life disease phases.