The impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on religious/spiritual beliefs and practices in the UK

Breast Cancer and Spirituality Among Women in Poland: A Case-Control Study

In this case-control study, we assessed differences in daily spiritual experiences between patients with breast cancer diagnoses and healthy controls in relation to other breast cancer risk factors. The participants were 201 newly diagnosed Polish patients with breast cancer (58 ± 6 years) and 201 age-matched healthy controls. Spiritual experiences were assessed using the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the DSES score for breast cancer diagnosis were calculated with logistic regression. The DSES score was significantly higher in the healthy controls than in the cases. After controlling for alcohol use, education, BMI, and rural residence, higher spirituality was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-1.00). Two DSES item scores differed significantly between cases and controls, being lower in breast cancer cases: "I am spiritually touched by the beauty of creation" (p = 0.01) and "I feel selfless caring for others" (p = 0.049). After controlling for other variables (i.e., hormone replacement therapy, family history, breastfeeding, and diet quality), the DSES score was statistically non-significant (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.97-1.006). Therefore, the original relationship DSES score and breast cancer was quite weak. Although the study found little relationship between the analyzed variables, presented differences in spirituality may differentiate the patterns of spiritual well-being among breast cancer patients; however, more data are needed from longitudinal study designs to establish causal inferences.

Effect of Cultural, Folk, and Religious Beliefs and Practices on Delays in Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer in African American Women

BACKGROUND

Certain cultural, folk, and religious beliefs that are more common among African Americans (AAs) have been associated with later-stage breast cancer. It is unknown if these beliefs are similarly associated with delays in diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Data from a multicenter case-control study of ovarian cancer in AA women were used to examine associations between cultural/folk beliefs and religious practices and stage at diagnosis and symptom duration before diagnosis. Associations between cultural/folk beliefs or religious practices and stage at diagnosis were assessed with logistic regression analyses, and associations with symptom duration with linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

Agreement with several of the cultural/folk belief statements was high (e.g., 40% agreed that "if a person prays about cancer, God will heal it without medical treatments"), and ∼90% of women expressed moderate to high levels of religiosity/spirituality. Higher levels of religiosity/spirituality were associated with a twofold increase in the odds of stage III-IV ovarian cancer, whereas agreement with the cultural/folk belief statements was not associated with stage. Symptom duration before diagnosis was not consistently associated with cultural/folk beliefs or religiosity/spirituality.

CONCLUSIONS

Women who reported stronger religious beliefs or practices had increased odds of higher stage ovarian cancer. Inaccurate cultural/folk beliefs about cancer treament were not associated with stage; however, these beliefs were highly prevalent in our population and could impact patient treatment decisions. Our findings suggest opportunities for health education interventions, especially working with churches, and improved doctor-patient communication.

Influence of Religious Beliefs on the Health of Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the influence of religious beliefs on the health of cancer patients and identified the factors contributing to the influence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire survey was conducted using a convenient sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to the samplings, and the data of 200 cancer patients were collected.

RESULTS

The effects of religion on the health of cancer patients achieved an average score of 3.58. The top five effects are presented as follows: (a) Religion provides me with mental support and strength, (b) religion enables me to gain confidence in health recovery, (c) religion motivates me to cope with disease-related stress positively and optimistically, (d) religion helps me reduce anxiety, and (e) religion gives me courage to face uncertainties regarding disease progression. Moreover, among the demographic variables, gender, type of religion, and experience of religious miracles contributed to the significantly different effects of religion on patients. Specifically, the effect of religion on the health of patients who were female and Christian and had miracle experiences was significantly (< .01) higher than that on other patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These results are helpful in understanding the influence of religious beliefs on the health of cancer patients and identified the factors contributing to the influence. The result can serve as a reference for nursing education and clinical nursing practice.

Religiosity After a Diagnosis of Cancer Among Older Adults

Aspects of religiosity are important to health and quality of life of cancer patients. This analysis examined changes in religiosity among community-dwelling cancer survivors. Previously diagnosed and newly diagnosed cancer survivors age 65+ were interviewed at baseline and four years later to understand how components of religiosity may change. Religiosity was assessed as organizational, non-organizational, and intrinsic using the Duke Religiosity Scale. At four years, 45 persons had a new diagnosis of non-skin cancer in addition to the 94 diagnosed at baseline. In comparison to persons without a cancer diagnosis and participants with a baseline diagnosis, newly diagnosed participants were more likely to decrease church attendance. Although not statistically significant, a larger proportion of recently diagnosed persons increased non-organizational religiosity behaviors and intrinsic religiosity compared to those with cancer at baseline and those without cancer. African Americans were more likely than Caucasians to show increased non-organizational religiosity. Caucasians with a cancer diagnosis showed increased intrinsic religiosity, perhaps because of a ceiling effect among African Americans. Although all groups showed declines and increases in the measures, baseline religiosity was the strongest predictor of religiosity at 48 months, indicating stability in religiosity over time, even in the context of a cancer diagnosis.