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Spirituality linked to better physical, emotional well-being in patients with cancer
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Heather S.L. Jim, PhD, of the health outcomes and behavior program at Moffitt Cancer Center, and colleagues analyzed data from previously published studies that examined spirituality and its association with outcomes among more than 32,000 patients with cancer. They found that patients with higher levels of spiritual well-being reported better emotional, physical and social health.
Heather S.L. Jim
HemOnc Today asked Jim about the potential benefits spirituality has on outcomes for patients with cancer, why it is important for clinicians to be aware of these benefits, and how providers can support patients’ spiritual beliefs and needs.
Question: Can you describe the potential benefits spirituality has on patient s’ physical and emotional well-being?
Answer: There are different kinds of spirituality, and what we found in our study is that patients who tend to have religious or spiritual emotions — such as a sense of meaning or transcendence — tended to report fewer symptoms from cancer and treatment. They also were more likely to report better physical quality of life, less distress and a better emotional quality of life.
Q: Based upon scientific research, is there a certain type of spirituality/religious practice that appears to lead to better outcomes in terms of patients’ physical and emotional well-being?
A: Helping patients connect to what is meaningful for them has benefits in terms of their emotional and physical well-being. This works differently for different people. This could include volunteering or spending more time with family. It is a very patient-centered experience. Often times, patients will report that having cancer will cause them to re-evaluate the meaning in their own lives. Encouraging patients to act upon this can be very beneficial, without discussing a specific religious tradition.
Q: Should the treating physician raise the subject of spirituality?
A: If the treating physician raises the topic of religion or spirituality, he/she needs to have resources available for patients who are reporting spiritual distress. This could be a referral to a social worker, chaplain or a member of the person’s religious/spiritual community.
Q: Is it taboo for physicians or other members of the care team to raise the subject of religion or spirituality unless the patient broaches the subject first?
A: This depends on how the subject is raised. If the member of the care team is raising the subject so that they can refer the patient to support services within their own religious/spiritual faiths that are comfortable or appropriate to them, this may help the patient. The goal is to support the patient in whatever religion or spiritual belief that they feel most comfortable, because this is what may be beneficial to the patient.
Q: If a patient does raise the subject, how might physicians support patients' desire for spiritual support, particularly if a physician is not particularly spiritual?
A: If there is a particular religion or spiritual faith or ties within the community that the patient can be referred back to, this would certainly be appropriate. In some hospitals there are chaplains and social workers that can connect people with spiritual support. Beyond this, even if the patient is not spiritual or religious or if the care team are not spiritual or religious, we have found that one’s sense that their life is meaningful or has a purpose is associated with a better emotional and physical health. There have been randomized trials in which psychologists have worked with patients with advanced cancer to enhance their meaning in life. Patients who received this meaning-centered therapy did report benefits on emotional and physical quality of life.
Q : Is there a certain cancer type that appears to be affected more by a patient's spirituality? Might spirituality affect cancer recurrence?
A: Our research looked at patient self-reported emotional and physical well-being. Unfortunately, we were not able to look at objective outcomes like survival or recurrence because there were not enough data to perform the analysis. Thus, we cannot say that religion or spirituality can help patients live longer or live cancer-free longer. In the analysis we did, religion and spirituality were beneficial on self-reported health regardless of cancer type or the stage at diagnosis.
Q : Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: Research in religion and spirituality among patients with cancer is important because it helps us determine evidence-based ways to care for the whole patient. Religion and spirituality may play an important role in increasing patients’ quality of life. – by Jennifer Southall
For more information:
Heather Jim , PhD, can be reached at Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612; email: heather.jim@moffitt.org.
Disclosure: Jim reports no relevant financial disclosures.