Spiritual well-being as a fundamental aspect of integral care for cancer patients

Helga Martins1 & Silvia Caldeira2

1Helga Martins

Pos-doctoral Fellow at Integral Human Development Program, PhD, RN, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Doctoral School (CADOS). Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health, Lisbon, Portugal.

Instituto Politécnico de Beja, Escola Superior de Saúde. R. Dr. José Correia Maltez, 7800-111 Beja, Portugal.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5804-7934

E-mail: hemartins@ucp.pt

2Sílvia Caldeira

PhD, MSc, RN, Associate Professor, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health, Lisbon, Portugal.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9804-2297

E-mail: scaldeira@ucp.pt

Spiritual well-being in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in an outpatient setting is a crucial aspect of an integral and holistic care, positively influencing patients’ health outcomes. In addition, spiritual well-being can be influenced by the religious affiliation and sociodemographic variables of the cancer patients. Therefore, we invite you to read the latest findings of this research:

Martins H, Dias Domingues T, Caldeira S. Spiritual Well-Being in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy in an Outpatient Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2020;38(1):68-77. doi:10.1177/0898010119858269

Link https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0898010119858269

Purpose of this research was to assess the spiritual well-being (SWB) of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in an outpatient setting. 

The methodology used was a quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. A convenience sample of 150 participants was obtained. Data collection instrument was a self-reported questionnaire that included the SWB Questionnaire (SWBQ), whose scores range from 20 to 100. SPSS software, version 21, was used in data analysis. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. 

Results demonstrated that the patients’ ages ranged between 35 and 83 years; most were female (64.7%), married (68.0%), Catholic (86.7%), and with breast cancer (35.3%) and colorectal cancer (25.3%). The average SWBQ total score was 65.91 (SD = 12.177). The highest score of the SWBQ was obtained in females, widows and singles, Evangelic and Catholic, and with lower educational level and professional occupation. The Cronbach α was 0.89, and the subscales αs ranged between 0.78 and 0.94. 

The conclusions of this study shows that the SWBQ scores were reasonable. These results can guide nurses’ clinical reasoning, as the assessment of SWB may precede the diagnosis of risk for spiritual distress, readiness for enhanced SWB, or spiritual distress. Thus, the use of this instrument may facilitate spirituality being effectively implemented in clinical practice, favoring holistic health care.

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