Skip to main content

“Oh, yeah, I’m getting closer to god”: spirituality and religiousness of family caregivers of cancer patients undergoing palliative care

Supportive Care in Cancer volume 23, pages 2383–2389 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Within the cancer palliative care setting, where both patients and family caregivers (FCs) undergo a transition from the end of curative treatment to palliative therapy, spirituality and religiousness (S/R) may be a strategy to help the patients and FCs better cope with the disease, in addition to exerting a positive impact on symptoms, particularly emotional symptoms. The present study aimed to understand how S/R influence FCs of cancer patients undergoing palliative care.

Methods

This study was an exploratory and descriptive qualitative study. The qualitative approach to the data was based on Bardin’s content analysis technique. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ-32) was used in the description of the results. Thirty FCs of individuals with advanced cancer undergoing palliative care were included.

Results

Analysis of the FCs’ narratives indicated that the FCs considered that religiousness and faith in God or a Supreme Being provide them with the strength to cope with the suffering associated with the care of relatives with advanced cancer. Many FCs emphasized that talking about God was somehow comforting and made them feel at peace with themselves. Four categories were identified in the FCs’ narratives: (1) increase in faith and closeness to God becomes stronger, (2) rethink life issues, (3) negative interference in the extrinsic religiosity, and (4) quest for religiousness to gain strength or support. A conceptual framework was developed.

Conclusions

The results of the present study indicated that S/R are a coping strategy frequently used by FCs of individuals with advanced cancer. The perceptions of the FCs interviewed in the present study corresponded to the four distinct categories related to spirituality and religiousness.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1

References

  1. Utne I, Miaskowski C, Paul SM, Rustoen T (2013) Association between hope and burden reported by family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Support Care Cancer 21:2527–2535. doi:10.1007/s00520-013-1824-5

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Grant M, Sun V, Fujinami R, Sidhu R, Otis-Green S, Juarez G, Klein L, Ferrell B (2013) Family caregiver burden, skills preparedness, and quality of life in non-small cell lung cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum 40:337–346. doi:10.1188/13.ONF. 337-346

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Surbone A, Baider L, Weitzman TS, Brames MJ, Rittenberg CN, Johnson J, Group MPS (2010) Psychosocial care for patients and their families is integral to supportive care in cancer: MASCC position statement. Support Care Cancer 18:255–263. doi:10.1007/s00520-009-0693-4

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Sand L, Olsson M, Strang P (2009) Coping strategies in the presence of one’s own impending death from cancer. J Pain Symptom Manag 37:13–22. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.01.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hebert RS, Schulz R, Copeland VC, Arnold RM (2009) Preparing family caregivers for death and bereavement. Insights from caregivers of terminally ill patients. J Pain Symptom Manag 37:3–12. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2007.12.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Leow MQ, Chan MF, Chan SW (2013) Predictors of change in quality of life of family caregivers of patients near the end of life with advanced cancer. Cancer Nurs. doi:10.1097/NCC.0000000000000101

    Google Scholar 

  7. Edwards A, Pang N, Shiu V, Chan C (2010) The understanding of spirituality and the potential role of spiritual care in end-of-life and palliative care: a meta-study of qualitative research. Palliat Med 24:753–770. doi:10.1177/0269216310375860

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Aquino VV, Zago MM (2007) The meaning of religious beliefs for a group of cancer patients during rehabilitation. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem 15:42–47

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Thune-Boyle IC, Stygall J, Keshtgar MR, Davidson TI, Newman SP (2011) Religious coping strategies in patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. Psychooncology 20:771–782. doi:10.1002/pon.1784

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Peteet JR, Balboni MJ (2013) Spirituality and religion in oncology. CA Cancer J Clin 63:280–289. doi:10.3322/caac.21187

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Delgado-Guay MO, Parsons HA, Hui D, De la Cruz MG, Thorney S, Bruera E (2013) Spirituality, religiosity, and spiritual pain among caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 30:455–461. doi:10.1177/1049909112458030

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Curcio CS, Lucchetti G, Moreira-Almeida A (2013) Validation of the Portuguese version of the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS-P) in clinical and non-clinical samples. J Relig Health (in press)

  13. Luxardo N, Brage E, Alvarado C (2012) An examination of advanced cancer caregivers’ support provided by staff interventions at hospices in Argentina. Ecancermedicalscience 6:281. doi:10.3332/ecancer.2012.281

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Herrera AP, Lee JW, Nanyonjo RD, Laufman LE, Torres-Vigil I (2009) Religious coping and caregiver well-being in Mexican-American families. Aging Ment Health 13:84–91. doi:10.1080/13607860802154507

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J (2007) Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care 19:349–357. doi:10.1093/intqhc/mzm042

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Bardin L (2008) Análise de conteúdo. Edições 70, Lisboa

  17. Koenig HG, McCullough M, Larson DB (2001) Handbook of religion and health: a century of research reviewed. Oxford University Press, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Given BA, Northouse L (2011) Who cares for family caregivers of patients with cancer? Clin J Oncol Nurs 15:451–452. doi:10.1188/11.CJON. 451-452

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Northouse LL, Katapodi MC, Song L, Zhang L, Mood DW (2010) Interventions with family caregivers of cancer patients: meta-analysis of randomized trials. CA Cancer J Clin 60:317–339. doi:10.3322/caac.20081

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Lucchetti G, Lucchetti AL, Oliveira GR, Crispim D, Pires SL, Gorzoni ML, Panicio CR, Koenig HG (2014) Nursing home care: exploring the role of religiousness in the mental health, quality of life and stress of formal caregivers. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 21:403–413. doi:10.1111/jpm.12092

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ferrell BR, Baird P (2012) Deriving meaning and faith in caregiving. Semin Oncol Nurs 28:256–261. doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2012.09.008

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Tsuang MT, Simpson JC, Koenen KC, Kremen WS, Lyons MJ (2007) Spiritual well-being and health. J Nerv Ment Dis 195:673–680. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e31811f4062

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Moreira-Almeida A, Neto FL, Koenig HG (2006) Religiousness and mental health: a review. Rev Bras Psiquiatr 28:242–250

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Peres MF, Lucchetti G (2010) Coping strategies in chronic pain. Curr Pain Headache Rep 14:331–338. doi:10.1007/s11916-010-0137-3

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Lucchetti G, de Almeida LG, Lucchetti AL (2012) Religiousness, mental health, and quality of life in Brazilian dialysis patients. Hemodial Int 16:89–94. doi:10.1111/j.1542-4758.2011.00623.x

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Moreira-Almeida A, Pinsky I, Aleski M, Laranjeira R (2010) Religious involvement and sociodemographic factors: a Brazilian national survey. Rev Psiq Clín 37:12–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. The Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project (2014) The global Catholic population. http://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/#mostnow. Accessed 23 Feb 2014

  28. Allport GW, Ross JM (1967) Personal religious orientation and prejudice. J Pers Soc Psychol 5:432–443

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Argyle MFL, Hills P, Jackson C (2004) Primary personality trait correlates of religious practice and orientation. Personal Individ Differ 36:61–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. O’Connor M, Fisher C, Guilfoyle A (2006) Interdisciplinary teams in palliative care: a critical reflection. Int J Palliat Nurs 12:132–137

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  31. World Health Organization (2014) WHO definition of palliative care. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/cancer/palliative/definition/en/. Accessed 16 Jan 2014

  32. Wachholtz AB, Keefe FJ (2006) What physicians should know about spirituality and chronic pain. South Med J 99:1174–1175

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for funding the present study (FAPESP grant no. 2011/19312-7).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

BSRP, CEP, and ALC conceived and designed the experiments. BSRP and CEP performed the experiments. BSRP and CEP analyzed the data. BSRP, CEP, GL, EMB, and ALC wrote the paper.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Oncology Post-Graduate Program (Stricto Sensu), Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva, André Lopes Carvalho, Eliane Marçon Barroso & Carlos Eduardo Paiva

  2. Research Group on Palliative Care and Health-Related Quality of Life (GPQual), Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva, André Lopes Carvalho, Eliane Marçon Barroso & Carlos Eduardo Paiva

  3. São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP, São Paulo, Brazil

    Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva

  4. Head and Neck Department, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil

    André Lopes Carvalho

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Giancarlo Lucchetti

  6. Breast and Gynecology Division, Department of Clinical Oncology, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Carlos Eduardo Paiva

  7. Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa–Pós-Graduação, Rua Antenor Duarte Villela, 1331, Barretos, São Paulo, 14784-400, Brazil

    Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva

Authors
  1. Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. André Lopes Carvalho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Giancarlo Lucchetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eliane Marçon Barroso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carlos Eduardo Paiva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary Table 1

(DOC 54 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Paiva, B.S.R., Carvalho, A.L., Lucchetti, G. et al. “Oh, yeah, I’m getting closer to god”: spirituality and religiousness of family caregivers of cancer patients undergoing palliative care. Support Care Cancer 23, 2383–2389 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2604-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2604-1

Keywords

  • Palliative care
  • Cancer
  • Family caregivers
  • Spirituality
  • Religiousness