A Systematic Review of Associations between Spiritual Well-Being and Quality of Life at the Scale and Factor Levels in Studies among Patients with Cancer

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the literature for associations between spiritual well-being and quality of life (QOL) among adults diagnosed with cancer. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed and CINAHL databases on descriptive correlational studies that provided bivariate correlations or multivariate associations between spiritual well-being and QOL. A total of 566 citations were identified; 36 studies were included in the final review. Thirty-two studies were cross-sectional and four longitudinal; 27 were from the United States. Sample size ranged from 44 to 8805 patients. Results: A majority of studies reported a positive association (ranges from 0.36 to 0.70) between overall spiritual well-being and QOL, which was not equal among physical, social, emotional, and functional wellbeing. The 16 studies that examined the Meaning/Peace factor and its association with QOL reported a positive association for overall QOL (ranges from 0.49 to 0.70) and for physical (ranges from 0.25 to 0.28) and mental health (ranges from 0.55 to 0.73), and remained significant after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. The Faith factor was not consistently associated with QOL. Conclusions: This review found consistent independent associations between spiritual well-being and QOL at the scale and factor (Meaning/Peace) levels, lending support for integrating Meaning/Peace constituents into assessment of QOL outcomes among people with cancer; more research is needed to verify our findings. The number of studies conducted on spiritual well-being and the attention to its importance globally emphasizes its importance in enhancing patients' QOL in cancer care.

How Should Clinicians Respond to Requests from Patients to Participate in Prayer?

“…4,[6][7][8]10 In the setting of severe illness, religious and spiritual support from the medical community significantly impacts patient-reported quality of life. 6,[11][12][13] Despite the significance of religion in patients' lives, physicians often avoid engaging in these conversations. [14][15] Believing the question is outside their expertise, worrying that they will say the wrong thing, or having discordant beliefs regarding religion, physicians are not sure what to say.…”

The Influence Of Religiousness In The Process Of Development Of Cancer

“…For many religious, the divine/superior being is seen as the absolute owner of wisdom, his plans and purposes going beyond human knowledge, taking the cancer patient to a condition of spiritual peace, making it so the treatment [13].…”

“…This statement is presented in the following reports: Religion occupies an important space in people's lives, and religiosity can help them find the meaning and coherence of the world. For many religious, the divine/superior being is seen as the absolute owner of wisdom, his plans and purposes going beyond human knowledge, taking the cancer patient to a condition of spiritual peace, making it so the treatment [13].…”

Concept Analysis of Spirituality in Nursing

“…( 27 ) . ‫وٝ‬ ‫ثغٛضی‬ ‫ؾغٛح‬ ‫ثبالتطی‬ ‫اظ‬ ‫ٔؼٙٛیت‬ ‫ٕٔىٗ‬ ‫اؾت‬ ٚ ‫تٙسضؾتی‬ ‫ثركس‬ ‫اضتمب‬ ‫ضا‬ ‫ؾالٔتی‬ ( 12 ) . ( 20 ) .…”