Spiritual Therapy to Improve the Spiritual Well-Being of Iranian Women with Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of spiritual therapy intervention in improving the spiritual well-being and quality of life (QOL) of Iranian women with breast cancer. Methods. This randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) recruited 65 women with breast cancer, randomly assigned to a 6-week spirituality-based intervention (n = 34) or control group (n = 31). Before and after six-week spiritual therapy intervention, spiritual well-being and quality of life (QOL) were assessed using Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spiritual Well-being scale (FACIT-Sp12) and cancer quality-of-life questionnaire (QLQ-C30), respectively. t-test, Paired t-test, pearson's correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses were used for analysis using Predictive Analytic software (PASW, version 18) for Windows. Results. After six spiritual therapy sessions, the mean spiritual well-being score from 29.76 (SD = 6.63) to 37.24 (SD = 3.52) in the intervention group (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference between arms of study (F = 22.91, P < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was detected between meaning and peace with all subscales of functional subscales on European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) (P < 0.05). Hierarchical regression analyses of participants indicated that the study arm, pain, and financial impact were significant predictors of spiritual well-being and overall QOL. Social functioning was another significant predictor of spiritual well-being. Conclusion. The results of this randomized controlled trial study suggest that participation in spiritual therapy program is associated with improvements in spiritual well-being and QOL. Targeted interventions to acknowledge and incorporate spiritual needs into conventional treatment should be considered in caring of Iranian patients with breast cancer.

Forming a Stress Management and Health Promotion Program for Women Undergoing Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

“…The spiritual well-being of breast cancer patients was improved in one study through a 6-week spiritual therapy intervention. 49 Taking into account the above research and the absence of positive changes through our stress management and health promotion program, future studies should be directed toward such spiritually supportive therapy.…”

Spirituality and spiritual care in Iran: nurses' perceptions and barriers

“…In addition, a poor level of spiritual well‐being has been reported by patients in Iran in comparison with other countries (Jafari et al. ). According to this literature, being Muslim and/or living in a Muslim society should provide regular opportunity for practicing spirituality and drawing on spiritual care provision for earlier recovery (Jafari et al.…”

My Heart, My Mind, My Life: A Study on the Relation between Spiritual Well-being and Quality of Life in Heart Disease Patients

“…Therefore, health workers must conduct spiritual interventions to enhance patients' HRQoL. These interventions have been done in Iran and have significantly reduced stress and depression and increased HRQoL in patients with chronic illness (Jafari et al, 2013;Hosseini, Kashani, Akbari, Akbari, & Mehr, 2016). However, a limitation of this study is its small sample size, which may influence the mediation analysis (Suhardi, 2010).…”