Factors Affecting the Tendency of Cancer Patients for Religion and Spirituality: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Evaluation of the Spiritual Care Needs of Patients with Cancer in a Chemotherapy Unit in Turkey

This study was conducted to determine the spiritual care needs of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to analyze a total of 104 patients at a university hospital in Turkey. The data were collected using the Spiritual Care Needs Scale. The mean age of the patients participating in the study was 61.0 (10.2). It was determined that 31.7% of the patients stated that the concepts of spirituality and spiritual care are related to religion and worship. As a result, it was found that the patients receiving chemotherapy had high-spiritual care needs. The dimensions in which the spiritual needs of the patients were remarkably high were belief and spiritual practices, being in peace and security, the love and support of their relatives and being informed about health. The spiritual care need score of the patients increased significantly with marital status (p = 0.001), having children (p = 0.002), having a chronic disease (p = 0.04) and having an undergraduate/graduate level education (p = 0.01). Nurses should be aware of patient's spiritual needs, plan patient-specific spiritual care practices, conduct more studies on the effects of spiritual care on the patient and family and create guidelines for spiritual care practices in patients receiving chemotherapy in Turkey.

A Comparative Analysis of Spiritual Care Needs Among Cancer Patients Receiving Home Care and Their Caregivers in Turkey

This study was conducted to determine and compare the spiritual care needs of cancer patients and their caregivers. A comparative descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed in this study. The study comprised 102 patients who were registered in the hospital's home care unit, as well as their caregivers (total number = 204). The data were collected using a personal information form and the Spiritual Care Needs Inventory. The cancer patients had a mean age of 69.5 years, while their caregivers' mean age was 53.1 years. According to the results, the cancer patients needed more spiritual care than their caregivers (p < 0.01). Patients' spiritual care needs differed significantly by employment status (p  < 0.05). However, gender, educational level, and marital status did not have a significant difference in the spiritual care needs of the patients and their caregivers (p > 0.05). Moderately positive and significant (p < 0.05) correlations between patients and their caregivers were found for the total Spiritual Care Needs Inventory scores (r = 0.449), the meaning and hope subscale (r = 0.378), and the caring and respect subscale (r = 0.546). It is important to evaluate the spiritual needs of patients with cancer and their caregivers. In this evaluation, it is essential to elicit the perspectives of cancer patients and their caregivers concerning spiritual needs and religion. Effective spiritual care for patients and their caregivers can only be provided if their beliefs and priorities are taken into consideration.

Exploring the psychological and religious perspectives of cancer patients and their future financial planning: a Q-methodological approach

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients are often hesitant to talk about their mental health, religious beliefs regarding the disease, and financial issues that drain them physically and psychologically. But there is a need to break this taboo to understand the perceptions and behaviours of the patients. Previous studies identified many psychological factors that are bothering cancer patients. However, it still requires exploring new elements affecting their mental and physical health and introducing new coping strategies to address patients' concerns.

METHODS

The current study aims to identify cancer patients' perceived attitudes towards the severity of illness, understand their fears, tend towards religion to overcome the disease, and future financial planning by using a Q-methodological approach. Data were collected in three steps from January-June 2020, and 51 cancer patients participated in the final stage of Q-sorting.

RESULTS

The findings of the study are based on the principal component factor analysis that highlighted three essential factors: (1) feelings, (2) religious beliefs about the acceptance of death, and (3) their future personal and financial planning. Further, the analysis shows that the patients differ in their beliefs, causes and support that they received as a coping mechanism.

CONCLUSION

This study explains cancer patients' psychological discomfort and physical pain but cannot relate it to co-morbidities. Q methodology allows the contextualization of their thoughts and future planning in different sets, like acceptance of death, combating religion's help, and sharing experiences through various platforms. This study will help health professionals derive new coping strategies for treating patients and financial managers to design insurance policies that help them to share their financial burdens.

Investigation of Acceptance of Illness and Religious Coping in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever in Turkey

This study aimed to determine the Acceptance of Illness and use of religious coping in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 209 FMF patients, who came to be examined in the Rheumatology outpatient clinic of a Training and Research Hospital in Turkey between June and October 2020. Data were obtained using a Patient Information Form, the Acceptance of Illness Scale, and the Religious Coping Styles Scale. The patients' mean Acceptance of Illness score was 21.14 ± 8.44 (moderate level), their mean positive religious coping score was 20.46 ± 5.97, and their mean negative religious coping score was 10.63 ± 5.01. There was a weak, negative correlation between the patients' Acceptance of Illness and their negative religious coping. Nurses should help patients to develop their Religious Coping Styles by taking into consideration their beliefs, values, cultural, and social backgrounds.

The Relationship Between Spirituality and Hopelessness Among Cancer Patients in Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between spirituality and hopelessness in cancer patients. The study used a cross-sectional and correlational design and included 650 cancer patients. The data were collected using a patient information form, the Spiritual Orientation Scale, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The data were analyzed by MANOVA and linear regression analysis. Cancer patients had high levels of spirituality (89.74 ± 32.79) and low levels of hopelessness (6.50 ± 5.61). A statistically significant relationship was found between the mean Spiritual Orientation Scale scores of the patients and their sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, marital status, educational status, employment status, income) (p < 0.05). A statistically significant relationship was found between the mean Beck Hopelessness Scale scores of the patients and their sociodemographic characteristics (age, marital status, income status) (p < 0.05). According to the linear regression analysis, a significant negative correlation was found between the spirituality and hopelessness levels of the patients (p < 0.01, R² = 0.503, b =  - 0.641). As the patients' spirituality increased, their levels of hopelessness decreased.

Psychosocial Problems in Relation to Spiritual Orientation and Religious Coping Among Oncology Muslim Patients

BACKGROUND

Patients generally turn to religion and spirituality when coping with the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess psychosocial problems in relation to spiritual orientation and religious coping among Muslim oncology patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, correlational study enrolled 406 oncology inpatient participants. Participants completed the Distress Thermometer, the Religious Coping Styles Scale, the Spiritual Orientation Scale, and the The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General Quality of Life Scale.

RESULTS

As the spiritual orientation levels of the participants increased, use of a positive religious coping strategy also increased and distress levels decreased. In addition, general perceived quality of health increased as spiritual orientation levels and positive religious coping strategy use increased. Participants reported using prayer, daily prayer attendance, offerings, and consulting religious experts to seek healing.

CONCLUSIONS

Oncology patients in Turkey experience increased spiritual orientation levels while coping with illness-related psychosocial problems and use positive religious coping methods.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The religious beliefs and spiritual orientations of Turkish oncology patients affect their cancer experience, their care, and their quality of life. Determining the religious and spiritual coping methods used by patients to cope with illness-related psychosocial problems may make it easier for nurses to plan patient-specific nursing care.

Effect of Spiritual Care Based on Ghalbe Salim on Anxiety in Adolescent with Cancer

Cancer is one of the chronic and rare diseases in children that is associated with psychological trauma that can cause fear and anxiety in patients. Considering that spirituality as a solid base may be a strong factor in controlling the tense conditions, this study aimed to investigate the effect of true heart spiritual care on cancer anxiety in Mashhad. This is a case-control study on 40 children referred to Dr. Sheikh Mashhad Children's Therapeutic Center in 2017. Sampling was done randomly in two groups of test and control. The experimental group received the training program in five sessions in 4 weeks. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Marx children's anxiety scale and entered into spssv.20 software. There was no difference the score of anxiety before intervention in any of the dimensions of anxiety and the general dimension of anxiety in the case and control (P < 0.01). However, the mean of anxiety score in the SC group before and after intervention was significantly (75.25 ± 15.2) (44.55 ± 7.62), respectively. So that 50% of the posttest changes are due to the effect of the intervention. Regarding the effect of SC on reducing cancer anxiety, it is recommended that therapists, counselors and clinical psychologists use the spiritual care education method to reduce anxiety.

Relationship between the religious attitudes of women with gynecologic cancer and mental adjustment to cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between religious attitudes of Muslim women with gynecologic cancer and mental adjustment to cancer.

METHODS

Designed as a descriptive relational study, this study was conducted with 123 patients with gynecologic cancer. A personal information form, prepared in accordance with the literature, the Religious Attitude Scale (RAS), and the Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (MACS) were used as data collection tools. The data were assessed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

A positive correlation was determined between the RAS score and the fighting spirit subscale of the MACS (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between the helplessness/hopelessness and anxious preoccupation subscales of the MACS and the RAS score (r = -0.40, p < 0.001; r = -0.30, p < 0.001, respectively).

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

The present results are helpful in understanding the influence of religious attitudes on the mental adjustment to gynecologic cancer patients. The results can serve as a reference for nursing education and clinical healthcare practice. Palliative healthcare providers can participate in improved care by recognizing spiritual needs and by advocating for attention to spiritual needs as a routine part of cancer care.

An Australian study on the benefits of pastoral care to aged care residents in Christian affiliated homes

This study aimed to understand the experience of pastoral care (PC), that is, the provision of support, comfort and spiritual counselling, from the perspective of Australian aged care residents. A survey research design captured feedback on participants' PC experience. Outcomes were reported by 575 residents (aged 53-102) across 41 sites. The majority perceived that they received a high quality of care (92%) and benefited from their meeting with the pastoral practitioner (80%), 'often' or 'all of the time'. A few significant differences were found based on participants' gender, spirituality (i.e. connection and meaning), religiosity (i.e. faith beliefs and religious practices) and well-being. Females and participants who identified as both religious and spiritual were more likely to feel that their faiths/beliefs were valued. Those with greater psychological well-being, as defined by the World Health Organisation (1998), were more likely to report receiving a high quality of care and greater benefits from receiving PC than those with poorer well-being. Three overarching themes and eight subthemes were identified from the open-ended responses: 1) personal qualities of the pastoral practitioner; caring, supportive, understanding and empathetic; 2) pastoral practitioner met specific needs; spiritual and religious, friendship and company and assistance, advice and help; and 3) positive impact on the participant; feeling listened to, peaceful and valued, accepted and respected. The qualitative findings resonate with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, to feel safe, belong and have self-esteem. There was a synergy between what participants desire in the care they receive, as expressed in the open-ended questions, and what the pastoral practitioners provide, as indicated in the quantitative findings. A study strength was its mixed-method, multi-site and cross-organisational context, enabling PC to be explored across a diverse sample. Future research should consider a pre- and post-test survey to more comprehensively capture the impact and benefits of PC.