Are Religious Coping and Pain Perception Related Together? Assessment in Iranian Cancer Patients

The Persian version of the fear of pain questionnaire mong Iranian post-surgery patients: a translation and psychometrics

INTRODUCTION

The Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FOPQ) is a self-report tool designed to measure an individual's fear of pain (FOP). While the Persian version of the FOPQ (FOPQ-P) has been developed, its validity and reliability have not yet been assessed in the Iranian context. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the FOPQ-P among Iranian patients after surgery.

METHODS

A methodological study was conducted in 2023 involving 400 post-surgery patients selected with a convenience sampling. The FOPQ was translated into Persian, and its psychometric properties were analyzed using network analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), as well as assessments of convergent and discriminant validity. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's Omega, average inter-item correlation coefficient, Composite Reliability, and Maximal Reliability.

RESULTS

The EFA results with Promax and Kaiser Normalization rotation identified two factors that explained 54.32% of the variance, comprising seven items. The CFA confirmed the model's validity. Both convergent and discriminant validity were established. The reliability analyses showed that Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, composite reliability, and MaxR for all constructs were above 0.7. Additionally, the average inter-item correlation coefficient was greater than 0.5, indicating strong internal consistency and construct reliability.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the FOPQ-P possesses a valid structure and was acceptable reliability in patients cultural context of Iran post-surgery, making it a suitable instrument for measuring fear of pain in this population.

The effects of synbiotics supplementation on reducing chemotherapy-induced side effects in women with breast cancer: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of breast cancer and its mortality rate are increasing rapidly among women worldwide. On other hand, the courses of chemotherapy as the main treatment for these patients are too much exhaustive and annoying. This study was designed to evaluate the use of synbiotics (probiotics + prebiotics) supplementation as a safe and inexpensive adjuvant treatment in reducing common chemotherapy side effects in women with breast cancer.

METHODS

The current study was conducted on 67 women with definitive diagnosis of breast cancer who were hospitalized to receive one-day chemotherapy sessions, and met the inclusion criteria. The patients were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group to receive synbiotics or placebo, respectively. They received oral consumption of synbiotics supplements twice a day for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the changes in severity or experience of chemotherapy complication, analyzed by intention to treat (ITT). The instruments included 7 validated questionnaires which were used to assess chemotherapy complications in the initiation, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after intervention. Dietary intake was measured by 24-h dietary recall at the beginning, week 4 and week 8. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 24. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

67 breast cancer patients participated in the study. 8 weeks after intervention and adjusting the confounders, the severity of chemotherapy complications including unnormal defecation (P = 0.005) and fatigue (P < 0/001) decreased significantly in the synbiotics group compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, nausea/vomiting (P = 0.015), and anorexia (P < 0.001) were decreased at the end of the study compared to the first visit, but it was not statistically significant compared to the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

Synbiotics supplementation during chemotherapy can potentially reduce the severity of fatigue and abnormal defecation. It can help reduce anorexia and nausea/vomiting.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) (registered code: IRCT20091114002709N56) (date of registration: 5/5/2021). Direct link to the trial page: https://www.irct.ir/trial/54559 .

The effects of synbiotics supplementation on reducing chemotherapy-induced side effects in women with breast cancer: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of breast cancer and its mortality rate are increasing rapidly among women worldwide. On other hand, the courses of chemotherapy as the main treatment for these patients are too much exhaustive and annoying. This study was designed to evaluate the use of synbiotics (probiotics + prebiotics) supplementation as a safe and inexpensive adjuvant treatment in reducing common chemotherapy side effects in women with breast cancer.

METHODS

The current study was conducted on 67 women with definitive diagnosis of breast cancer who were hospitalized to receive one-day chemotherapy sessions, and met the inclusion criteria. The patients were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group to receive synbiotics or placebo, respectively. They received oral consumption of synbiotics supplements twice a day for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the changes in severity or experience of chemotherapy complication, analyzed by intention to treat (ITT). The instruments included 7 validated questionnaires which were used to assess chemotherapy complications in the initiation, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after intervention. Dietary intake was measured by 24-h dietary recall at the beginning, week 4 and week 8. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 24. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

67 breast cancer patients participated in the study. 8 weeks after intervention and adjusting the confounders, the severity of chemotherapy complications including unnormal defecation (P = 0.005) and fatigue (P < 0/001) decreased significantly in the synbiotics group compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, nausea/vomiting (P = 0.015), and anorexia (P < 0.001) were decreased at the end of the study compared to the first visit, but it was not statistically significant compared to the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

Synbiotics supplementation during chemotherapy can potentially reduce the severity of fatigue and abnormal defecation. It can help reduce anorexia and nausea/vomiting.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) (registered code: IRCT20091114002709N56) (date of registration: 5/5/2021). Direct link to the trial page: https://www.irct.ir/trial/54559 .

Coping with Stress During the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Contribution of Self-Control Skills and Religiosity in Arab Israeli-Palestinian Students in Israel

The reported high rates of deaths and negative psychological outcomes of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have led to an increased empirical interest in examining the contributing factors of coping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adolescents living in Arab societies have unique challenges that may increase the likelihood of exhibiting symptoms of stress during this crisis. However, this population has been understudied in this context. The current research aims to elucidate factors that may contribute to Arab Israeli-Palestinian students' coping abilities during the COVID-19 pandemic by investigating the relationship between coping with stress during the COVID-19 outbreak and both self-control and religiosity. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to investigate the relationship of coping with stress during the COVID-19 outbreak with self-control skills and religiosity among Arab Israeli-Palestinian college students in Israel (n = 465). Correlational analyses and stepwise multiple regression models were used to examine these relationships. The stepwise multiple regression model demonstrated that (1) higher levels of self-control (β = .19, p < .01) and religiosity (β = .16, p < .01) predicted higher levels of adaptive, problem-focused coping, and (2) higher levels of self-control (β = -.21, p < .01) and religiosity (β = -.17, p < .01) predicted lower levels of maladaptive, emotion-focused coping. Thus, the current research demonstrates the importance of these variables in countering stress resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak in non-Western societies. These findings are consistent with previous literature that has addressed the impact of self-control and religiosity in improving coping behaviours in Western societies.

Identifying unmet information needs of advanced cancer patients in Iran: An in-depth qualitative study

Background and Aims

One of the main vital needs for self-care in patients with advanced cancer is information need. Meeting this need has significant positive effects on improving their treatment and care. This study was conducted to identify the unmet information needs of patients with advanced cancer in Iran.

Methods

This exploratory study was performed from July to February 2021 in the Kerman University of Medical Sciences cancer treatment centers. Oncologists selected eligible patients by purposeful sampling method. Semistructured and in-depth interviews were conducted with selected patients to collect data. Interviews continued until data saturation. Each interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Results

In the interviews, 15 patients with advanced cancer ranging in age from 43 to 65 years participated. The most common type of cancer in women was breast (71.4%) and prostate (50%) in men. The two main categories of "types of unmet information needs" and "reasons for not meeting information needs" were extracted from the analysis of patient interviews, with six and four subcategories, respectively.

Conclusion

Cancer patients had a large number of unmet information needs. At the time of identifying the unmet information needs of cancer patients, the basic reasons for not meeting these needs should also be considered because cultural differences and social gaps in societies are inevitable.

Instruments for Assessing Spiritual/Religious Coping in Multicultural Clinical Settings

ABSTRACT

A review of literature was conducted to discover and compare various instruments that could be used in daily nursing practice to assess spiritual and religious coping in a variety of multicultural clinical settings. Fifteen spiritual and religious (S/R) instruments were identified, used in 31 studies in multiple countries. These S/R coping tools may be useful to nurses in assessment and for planning interventions.

The Effect of Listening to the Recitation of the Surah Al-Inshirah on Labor Pain, Anxiety and Comfort in Muslim Women: A Randomized Controlled Study

This study aimed to identify whether listening to the recitation of the Surah Al-Inshirah (94th Chapter of the Holy Qur'an) during labor had any effect on women's pain, anxiety and comfort levels. Designed as a randomized controlled trial, the study was performed with the participation of 126 pregnant Muslim women. The study showed that listening to the recitation of the Surah Al-Inshirah during labor had positive effects on the women's pain, anxiety and comfort levels. In this respect, it is recommended that based on individuals' religious beliefs, spiritual elements such as surahs, prayers and hymns be integrated into the midwifery care offered during labor.

Exploring the care needs of Iranian patients with cancer: a qualitative content analysis

BACKGROUND‏: Cancer is currently one of the most critical health problems worldwide. Different studies have shown that disease can reduce people's ability to take care of themselves and this makes them face many needs. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate unmet needs faced by patients with cancer‏. METHODS: This study employed a conventional, qualitative content analysis method. Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 13 participants in 15 interview sessions. With the in-depth semi-structured approach, the participants were asked to narrate their experiences of self-care needs in the process of disease. The collected data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman's method through the following steps: Construction of the units of analysis, construction of codes of meaning, condensation, extracting codes, and categorization (subcategories, categories, and the core category) ‏. RESULTS‏: Data analysis revealed two main categories. The first category was "Deficiency in disease management" with three subcategories: "the need to get rid of annoying physical symptoms"," the need for a caregiver to help with the daily routine", and "feeling frustrated and giving up treatment". The second main category covered "the need for sympathetic and knowledgeable caregivers" with the following five subcategories:" the need for sympathy and interaction with the nurse", "the need to hear the truth about the illness ", "the need for appropriate therapeutic interaction from physicians", "Inadequate qualification of medical secretaries about the patient", and" need for advice from psychologists for psychological adaptation‏". CONCLUSION‏: The most critical need reported by the patients was the need for compassionate and informed caregivers. So nursing management and care with kindness, competence, and conscience is the fundamental right of patients with cancer. Identifying patients' needs and problems can be used as a background for increasing the knowledge and experience of nurses and providing care for patients with cancer‏.

Do Religious Coping and Attachment to God Affect Perceived Pain? Study of the Elderly with Chronic Back Pain in Iran

Religious Coping (RC) refers to the individual's ability to understand and cope with the stress in life. Attachment is a God relatively stable emotional bond that forms through continuous communication and requires interaction, pleasure and relaxation. Considering the increasing population of the elderly and the role of pain in their health status, the present study was conducted aimed to determine the relationship between RC and attachment to God with perceived pain in the elderly with chronic low back pain (CLBP) in Ilam in Iran. The present study is a descriptive cross-sectional one in the elderly group with chronic low back pain in 2018. A total of 300 elderly patients with chronic low back pain were enrolled using convenience sampling. The tools used included demographic characteristics form, religious coping questionnaire, attachment to God's questionnaire and perceived pain intensity questionnaire. The findings indicated that the mean (SD) of the total score of attachment to God variables was 65.71 (2.64), religious coping was 20.67 (2.59), chronic pain acceptance was 17.29 (6.66), and perceived pain was 5.81 (2.65). Also, there was a meaningful correlation between the intensity of the pain and the level of attachment to God and religious coping. Therefore, it is suggested that appropriate religious interventions for elderly patients with chronic pain should be undertaken to reduce their pain status in order to help improve their quality of life.

Body-Mind Healing Strategies in Patients with Cancer: a Qualitative Content Analysis

Background: Cancer is a major health problem around the world. The use of coping strategies among patients with cancer depends on several issues. This study was conducted to determine coping strategies used by patients with cancer in south-east Iran. Methods: This study is a conventional, qualitative content analysis with a descriptive explorative approach. Data saturation achieved after interviewing 13 participants in 15 interviews. Using an in-depth individual semi-structured approach the participants were asked to narrate their experiences of strategies that they used to cope with cancer. The following were considered: unit of analysis, meaning unit, condensation, code, sub-category, category, and main category. Results: Data analysis led to extraction of two main categories of body-mind healing strategies: being connected to the body and mindfully reconnected to the self. The first category was explained with reference to two sub-categories, being aware of intelligence and body nurturing. The second category was explained with the three sub-categories of using embodying knowledge, living for the moment, and being connected to nature. Conclusion: According to the results of this qualitative study, it is possible to form discussion groups with peers or to have self-reflective practice learning groups to reflect patients’ questions and strategies that they use for body-mind healing.