Investigation of the SWB and its relation with demographic parameters in patients with breast cancer referred to an oncology hospital affiliated to the Isfahan university of medical sciences

Abstract

Background: Spiritual well-being is well-recognized as a factor that affects cancer patients' quality of life, quality of care, and satisfaction. There is evidence that supports the fact that patients' spiritual needs are associated with better quality of care, higher hospice utilization, and less aggressive care at the end of life. However, few studies have examined the Spiritual well-being (SWB) in cancer patients. Less is known about spirituality; furthermore, no published research about SWB and its relationship with demographic parameters in breast cancer patients exists; this made us carry out this project.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was a descriptive - analytical one, conducted on 297 breast cancer patients, with a simple sampling methodology. The data collection instrument included a questionnaire containing two parts (demographic information and standard SWB Scale questionnaire). The data were analyzed with 95% confidence by SPSS18, using descriptive and analytic statistics.

Results: According to the results of the present study, SWB of most of the study subjects (52.52%) was at a moderate level. Results showed that the average score for religious aspect of spiritual well-being (RWB) was 51.38 ± 8.17 for 60, average score for the existential aspect of spiritual well-being (EWB) was 42.47 ± 10.21 for 60, and the total score of SWB was 93.69 ± 10.04 for 120. Based on the study findings, there was a statistically significant correlation between the SWB and age (P = 0.03, r = 0.59), educational level (P = 0.04, r = -0.58), and marital status (P = 0.001), of breast cancer patients.

Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, the SWB of most study subjects was at a moderate level. Furthermore, according to the results there was a correlation between some important demographic parameters in women with breast cancer and SWB. Hence, it is necessary for the treatment team to assess and improve the SWB of patients; meanwhile the role of nurses is highlighted. In fact, the nurse is the first person who can recognize the spiritual needs of a patient and even his/her family, and can be effective in meeting the spiritual needs and improving their SWB. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that in patients with cancer, a holistic care plan, based on spiritual care, development, and education of patients be applied, as it is considered to improve their SWB.

Keywords: Demographic parameters; neoplasm; nurse; spirituality.