Purpose: Investigations into the role of spirituality in cancer confirm the association of good spiritual well-being with many positive outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate potential changes in spirituality over the course of radiation therapy (RT). Patients and Materials: The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual questionnaire measuring spiritual well-being and quality of life (QOL) was administered to adult patients undergoing RT. Scores were compared using student t tests and chi-square analysis. Results: Despite statistically significant declines in QOL measures such as physical well-being (P < .001) and overall well-being (P < .001), no significant changes were noted in spirituality for all comers. A significant increase in the Sp-12 spirituality measure (P = .001) was noted in patients with breast cancer, independent of age, gender, and purpose of treatment. Sp-12 scores were positively correlated with overall QOL scores (P < .001).
AlcornSRBalboniMJ, Prigerson HG, et al. "If god wanted me yesterday, I wouldn't be here today": religious and spiritual themes in patients' experiences of advanced cancer. J Palliat Med. 2010;13(5):581–588.
2.
BalboniTAVanderwerkerLCBlockSD. Religiousness and spiritual support among advanced cancer patients and associations with end-of-life treatment preferences and quality of life. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25(5):555–560.
3.
AstrowABWexlerATexeiraK. Is failure to meet spiritual needs associated with cancer patients' perceptions of quality of care and their satisfaction with care?J Clin Oncol. 2007;25(36):5753–5757.
4.
WhitfordHSOlverINPetersonMJ. Spirituality as a core domain in the assessment of quality of life in oncology. Psychooncology. 2008;17(11):1121–1128.
5.
Prince-PaulM. Relationships among communicative acts, social well-being, and spiritual well-being on the quality of life at the end of life in patients with cancer enrolled in hospice. J Palliat Med. 2008;11(1):20–25.
6.
JohnsonMEPidermanKMSloanJA. Measuring spiritual quality of life in patients with cancer. J Support Oncol. 2007;5(9):437–442.
7.
WeaverAJFlannellyKJ. The role of religion/spirituality for cancer patients and their caregivers. South Med J. 2004;97(12):1210–1214.
8.
McCoubrieRCDaviesAN. Is there a correlation between spirituality and anxiety and depression in patients with advanced cancer?Support Care Cancer. 2006;14(4):379–385.
9.
KristellerJLRhodesMCripeLDSheetsV. Oncologist assisted spiritual intervention study (OASIS): patient acceptability and initial evidence of effects. Int J Psychiatry Med. 2005;35(4):329–347.
10.
MurraySAKendallMGrantEBoydKBarclaySSheikhA. Patterns of social, psychological, and spiritual decline toward the end of life in lung cancer and heart failure. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2007;34(4):393–402.
11.
PetermanAHFitchettGBradyMJHernandezLCellaD. Measuring spiritual well-being in people with cancer: the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy—spiritual well-being scale (FACIT-sp). Ann Behav Med. 2002;24(1):49–58.
12.
YostKJEtonDT. Combining distribution- and anchor-based approaches to determine minimally important differences: the FACIT experience. Eval Health Prof. 2005;28(2):172–191.
13.
VisserAGarssenBVingerhoetsA. Spirituality and well-being in cancer patients: a review. Psychooncology. 2010;19(6):565–572.
14.
ThomasJCBurtonMGriffinMTFitzpatrickJJ. Self-transcendence, spiritual well-being, and spiritual practices of women with breast cancer. J Holist Nurs. 2010;28(2):115–122.
15.
ReynoldsD. Examining spirituality among women with breast cancer. Holist Nurs Pract. 2006;20(3):118–21.
16.
Manning-WalshJ. Spiritual struggle: effect on quality of life and life satisfaction in women with breast cancer. J Holist Nurs. 2005;23(2):120–140; discussion 141-144.
17.
RomeroCFriedmanLCKalidasMElledgeRChangJLiscumKR. Self-forgiveness, spirituality, and psychological adjustment in women with breast cancer. J Behav Med. 2006;29(1):29–36.
18.
LevineEGAvivCYooGEwingCAuA. The benefits of prayer on mood and well-being of breast cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer. 2009;17(3):295–306.
19.
DanhauerSCCrawfordSLFarmerDFAvisNE. A longitudinal investigation of coping strategies and quality of life among younger women with breast cancer. J Behav Med. 2009;32(4):371–379.
20.
Bauer-WuSFarranCJ. Meaning in life and psycho-spiritual functioning: a comparison of breast cancer survivors and healthy women. J Holist Nurs. 2005;23(2):172–190.
21.
VandeCreekLRogersELesterJ. Use of alternative therapies among breast cancer outpatients compared with the general population. Altern Ther Health Med. 1999;5(1):71–76.
22.
JohnsonSCSpilkaB. Coping with breast cancer: the roles of clergy and faith. J Relig Health. 1991;30(1):21.
23.
MystakidouKTsilikaEParpaE. Exploring the relationships between depression, hopelessness, cognitive status, pain, and spirituality in patients with advanced cancer. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2007;21(3):150–161.
24.
AndoMMoritaTAkechiT. The efficacy of mindfulness-based meditation therapy on anxiety, depression, and spirituality in Japanese patients with cancer. J Palliat Med. 2009;12(12):1091–1094.
25.
AndoMMoritaTAkechiTOkamotoT; Japanese Task Force for Spiritual Care. Efficacy of short-term life-review interviews on the spiritual well-being of terminally ill cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2010;39(6):993–1002.
26.
AndoMMoritaTMiyashitaMSanjoMKiraHShimaY. Effects of bereavement life review on spiritual well-being and depression. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2010;40(3):453–459.
27.
AndoMMoritaTOkamotoTNinosakaY. One-week short-term life review interview can improve spiritual well-being of terminally ill cancer patients. Psychooncology. 2008;17(9):885–890.
28.
AbernethyAPHerndonJE2ndCoanA. Phase 2 pilot study of pathfinders: a psychosocial intervention for cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2010;18(7):893–898.
29.
SmithSKHerndonJELyerlyHK. Correlates of quality of life-related outcomes in breast cancer patients participating in the pathfinders pilot study. Psychooncology. 2010;20(5):559–564.
AndrykowskiMACurranSLStudtsJL: Psychosocial adjustment and quality of life in women with breast cancer and benign breast problems: a controlled comparison. J Clin Epidemiol. 1996;49(8):827–834.
