scholarly journals The Use of Bibliotherapy in Revealing and Addressing the Spiritual Needs of Cancer Patients

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Ágnes Bálint ◽  
Judit Magyari
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Group Processes ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Key Factor

Assessing and addressing spiritual needs is a key factor in the quality of life and overall wellbeing of cancer patients. However, the evolution and diversification of assessment tools has not automatically been followed by their successful implementation; thus, addressing unmet needs continues to be a concern. In this paper, we examine the place of bibliotherapy (also called reading therapy or poetry therapy) as a group intervention in the oncological setting in revealing spiritual needs. We show that it represents not only a useful intervention but may also provide instant relief and reduce spiritual suffering. Bibliotherapy understood and practiced as a subtle balance of texts and group processes alleviates cognitive and emotional symptoms of a spiritual concern and facilitates finding meaning in life in general and illness in particular. As an intervention, it is effective, affordable and attractive; moreover, it equips patients receiving treatment and rehabilitation with the lifelong skill of reflective reading. Bibliotherapy is easily tailored to almost any needs and promotes self-expression, which provides spiritual fulfillment in itself.

scholarly journals An Overview of Systematic Reviews: Complementary Therapies for Cancer Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 153473541989002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seong Min Lee ◽  
Ho Cheol Choi ◽  
Min Kyung Hyun
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Complementary Therapies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cancer Type

Introduction: This article critically examines the systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) of complementary therapies for cancer patients to appraise the evidence level, and offers suggestions for future research and practice. Methods: The Cochrane Library and MEDLINE were searched from their inception to January 2018, to identify SR and MA of complementary therapies available for cancer patients. Final selected SR and MA were methodologically evaluated for their quality by applying the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR2) instrument. Data extraction and risk of quality assessments were performed by 2 independent reviewers. Results: A total of 104 studies were included in the analysis. The majority of the individual clinical trials included in the SR and MA were performed in China (48%) and the United States (26.9%). Breast cancer was the most studied cancer type (25%), and acupuncture was the most studied intervention (21%). Side effects of cancer such as pain, depression, and fatigue were effectively managed with complementary therapies. The methodologically problematic items included not listing the excluded studies and lack of protocol or protocol registration. Conclusions: With increasing interest in research, complementary therapies appear to be beneficial in reducing side effects and raising the quality of life of cancer patients. Complementary therapies have generally been studied for all cancers, with acupuncture being the most researched, regardless of the cancer type. Since AMSTAR2 is a stricter assessment tool than before, future studies need to consider the risk of methodological bias with caution and discuss appropriate overall quality assessment tools.

scholarly journals A cognitive–existential intervention to improve existential and global quality of life in cancer patients: A pilot study

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 981-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Gagnon ◽  
Lise Fillion ◽  
Marie-Anik Robitaille ◽  
Michèle Girard ◽  
François Tardif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Usual Condition ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
The Individual

AbstractObjective:We developed a specific cognitive–existential intervention to improve existential distress in nonmetastatic cancer patients. The present study reports the feasibility of implementing and evaluating this intervention, which involved 12 weekly sessions in both individual and group formats, and explores the efficacy of the intervention on existential and global quality of life (QoL) measures.Method:Some 33 nonmetastatic cancer patients were randomized between the group intervention, the individual intervention, and the usual condition of care. Evaluation of the intervention on the existential and global QoL of patients was performed using the existential well-being subscale and the global scale of the McGill Quality of Life (MQoL) Questionnaire.Results:All participants agreed that their participation in the program helped them deal with their illness and their personal life. Some 88.9% of participants agreed that this program should be proposed for all cancer patients, and 94.5% agreed that this intervention helped them to reflect on the meaning of their life. At post-intervention, both existential and psychological QoL improved in the group intervention versus usual care (p = 0.086 and 0.077, respectively). At the three-month follow-up, global and psychological QoL improved in the individual intervention versus usual care (p = 0.056 and 0.047, respectively).Significance of results:This pilot study confirms the relevance of the intervention and the feasibility of the recruitment and randomization processes. The data strongly suggest a potential efficacy of the intervention for existential and global quality of life, which will have to be confirmed in a larger study.

scholarly journals Religiousness and Spiritual Support Among Advanced Cancer Patients and Associations With End-of-Life Treatment Preferences and Quality of Life

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 555-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy A. Balboni ◽  
Lauren C. Vanderwerker ◽  
Susan D. Block ◽  
M. Elizabeth Paulk ◽  
Christopher S. Lathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Medical System ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Treatment Preferences ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Spiritual Support ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Advance Care

Purpose Religion and spirituality play a role in coping with illness for many cancer patients. This study examined religiousness and spiritual support in advanced cancer patients of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds and associations with quality of life (QOL), treatment preferences, and advance care planning. Methods The Coping With Cancer study is a federally funded, multi-institutional investigation examining factors associated with advanced cancer patient and caregiver well-being. Patients with an advanced cancer diagnosis and failure of first-line chemotherapy were interviewed at baseline regarding religiousness, spiritual support, QOL, treatment preferences, and advance care planning. Results Most (88%) of the study population (N = 230) considered religion to be at least somewhat important. Nearly half (47%) reported that their spiritual needs were minimally or not at all supported by a religious community, and 72% reported that their spiritual needs were supported minimally or not at all by the medical system. Spiritual support by religious communities or the medical system was significantly associated with patient QOL (P = .0003). Religiousness was significantly associated with wanting all measures to extend life (odds ratio, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.08 to 3.57). Conclusion Many advanced cancer patients’ spiritual needs are not supported by religious communities or the medical system, and spiritual support is associated with better QOL. Religious individuals more frequently want aggressive measures to extend life.

scholarly journals The Multiple Mediating Effects of Perceived Social Support and Spiritual Well-being on the Relationship Between Spiritual Needs and Quality of Life Among Patients With Advanced Cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quying Wen ◽  
Miaorui Jiao ◽  
Huailin Wang ◽  
Yanli Hu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Mediating Effects ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Aims: The purpose of this study was to test the associations between spiritual needs, perceived social support, spiritual well-being, and quality of life (QoL) and examine the multiple mediating effects of perceived social support and spiritual well-being on the relationship between spiritual needs and QoL among patients with advanced cancer.Methods: Spiritual needs, perceived social support, spiritual well-being and QoL were assessed using self-report questionnaires among 286 cancer patients in a tertiary oncology hospital. The mediation model was analysed using the SPSS PROCESS procedure, and indirect effects were evaluated with bootstrapping.Results: QoL was positively correlated with spiritual needs (r=0.315, p<0.01), perceived social support (r=0.451, p<0.01) and spiritual well-being (r=0.636, p<0.01). The relationship between spiritual needs and QoL was mediated by perceived social support (indirect effect: 0.063, confidence interval (CI) (0.018, 0.118)) and spiritual well-being (indirect effect: 0.068, CI (0.001, 0.155)) and serially mediated by spiritual needs and QoL (indirect effect: 0.072, CI (0.041, 0.113)).Conclusions: The results emphasize the importance of spiritual well-being and social support for cancer patients, especially those with more spiritual needs. They suggest that healthcare providers should develop strategies to enhance perceived social support and spiritual well-being when caring for cancer patients to improve patients’ QoL.

scholarly journals Impact of Support Group Intervention on Quality of Life of Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 109s-109s
Author(s):  
V. Okwor ◽  
K. Nwankwo ◽  
P. Obidiebube ◽  
N. Lasebikan ◽  
C. Okwor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Advanced Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Advanced Breast ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Support

Background: Health-related quality of life is an important end point in breast cancer care. Assessing quality of life in breast cancer patients could contribute to improved treatment outcome and could even serve as monitor along with medical parameters. The need for psychosocial support is well established among breast cancer patients with levels of psychological distress and depression, particularly after diagnosis and treatment. Cancer support helps patients to cope with cancer by adjusting their attitudes, knowledge, and expectation about the disease. Aim: To determine the impact of support group intervention on quality of life of patients with advanced breast cancer To create awareness, educate, counsel and support as well as to mediate in the weaknesses of the medical care system in dealing with breast cancer patients. Methods: A prospective cohort study involving breast cancer patients using a system of breast cancer support group that organizes a two month period meeting for all breast patients in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu. Educational information on breast cancer, nutritional needs, exercise and the need for regular follow-up in breast cancer care were given to them as well as the means of overcoming the psychosocial burden in cancer. QOL assessment evaluating the four domains (physical, social, psychological and environmental) on selected patients with advanced breast cancer using WHO BREF was administered. Results: A total of 113 breast cancer patients were involved in this study. At the end of the intervention, 14 women (12.4%) were censored due to death, while postassessment was carried out for only 99 women. Postintervention analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between availability of social support to respondents (FS score) and the four quality of life domains ( P < 0.05). Further analysis also showed that respondents' quality of life significantly increased across all domains at postintervention ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients receiving support group intervention all had improved quality of life.

scholarly journals Food-Related Quality of Life in Cancer Patients: Development and Validation of a Questionnaire

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 273-273
Author(s):  
Catherine Mercier ◽  
Kenza Drareni ◽  
Anestis Dougkas ◽  
Fadila Farsi ◽  
Pamela Funk-Debleds ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Item Questionnaire ◽  
Related Quality

Abstract Objectives Monitoring psychosocial, emotional, and hedonic aspects of food behavior is important to understand cancer patients’ distress and help to reduce risks of malnutrition. However, to date, there is no specific tool to measure the impact of diet, eating behavior, and chemotherapy side effects on patients’ food-related quality of life during cancer and its treatments. The objective was to develop and validate a questionnaire that aims to assess the food-related quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods Relevant items from the existing food-related quality of life assessment tools were selected to compose the present 46-item questionnaire. The validation of the questionnaire was conducted in 276 healthy volunteers and 173 cancer patients. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed in both groups, construct and discriminant validity, and test-retest reliability were calculated. Results The questionnaire was perceived as clear and required less than14 minutes for completion (93% complete responses) in a pre-test (n = 156). The EFA allowed the inclusion of 9 dimensions in the food-related quality of life questionnaire. Common patterns between patients and healthy volunteers (factor loadings ≥ 0.4 in both groups) were used to calculate scores by dimension. Scores in the dimensions of adapting diet and sensorial discomfort (taste/odor) were higher in cancer patients, whilst scores in the dimension of discomfort in satiety were higher in healthy volunteers. Among patients with cancer, the total scores in sensorial discomfort, digestive discomfort, and discomfort in satiety were higher under chemotherapy than no treatment. Reproducibility after one week was in increasing order; digestive discomfort 0.6, adapting diet 0.61, products’ quality 0.67, cooking 0.75, healthy diet 0.76, eating and pleasure 0.80, discomfort in satiety 0.82, and sensorial discomfort 0.85. Conclusions This 46-item questionnaire can discriminate cancer patients versus healthy volunteers, and patients receiving vs those not receiving chemotherapy. A good to very good reproducibility was found for the most important factors of food-related quality of life of patients with cancer, i.e, eating and pleasure, sensorial discomfort, and discomfort in satiety. Funding Sources This study is funded by La Région Auvergne Rhône-Aples and La Métropôle de Lyon.

scholarly journals Loneliness in Pre and Post-operative Cancer Patients: A Mini Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ami Rokach
Keyword(s):  
Complex System ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Lack Of Exercise ◽  
Nose And Throat ◽  
Excess Alcohol Consumption

This review explored the experience of hospitalization and the experience of cancer patients who were undergoing Ear Nose and Throat [ENT] surgery.  Hospitals, which were designed with treatment and healing in mind, are known to be the source of uncontrollable noise, physicians who talk in a language that patients do not understand. Entering the hospital as a patient, one becomes part of that very complex system, which may include being treated as a ‘nonperson,’ not getting enough information, and losing control of daily activities. Hospitalized patients’ social contact is limited to interaction with the medical staff which thus become a key factor in determining the quality of care, and whether the patients can successfully cope with the stress of their hospitalization experience.Loneliness was found to be associated with a range of negative physical health outcomes such as dementia, increased blood pressure, suicidal thinking and unhealthy and damaging behaviors such as smoking, excess alcohol consumption and lack of exercise leading and contributing to increased mortality.  Being, both, hospitalized and in the midst of a frightening illness they experience loneliness and isolation.

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