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Do Religious/Spiritual Preferences and Needs of Cancer Patients Vary Based on Clinical- and Treatment-Level Factors?

  • Health Services Research and Global Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The objective of this study is to characterize the religion and spiritual (R&S) needs of patients who undergo cancer-directed surgery. In addition, we seek to examine how R&S needs vary based on R&S identity and clinical and surgical treatment characteristics.

Patients and Methods

A cross-sectional survey was administered to potential participants who were recruited through outpatient clinics and online. Respondent desires for R&S resources and engagement with the healthcare team  around R&S topics were assessed.

Results

Among 383 potential participants who were identified, 236 respondents were included in the analytic cohort. Mean age was 58.8 (SD 12.10) years, and most participants were female (75.8%) and White/Caucasian (94.1%). The majority (78.4%) identified as currently cancer free. Commonly treated malignancies included breast (43.2%), male reproductive (8.9%), skin (8.5%), and gastrointestinal (GI) (7.2%). Two-thirds of the respondents indicated a desire to have R&S incorporated into their cancer treatment (63.3%). Patients who identified as highly/moderately religious reported wanting R&S more often (highly religious: 95.2% versus moderately religious: 71.4% vs. nonreligious but spiritual: 4.5%). On multivariable analysis, patients who believed their health would improve in the future were more likely to report wanting R&S service (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–4.7) as well as wanting to engage their healthcare providers on R&S topics (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.7). In contrast, perception of current or future health status was not associated with patient desire for the actual surgeon/doctor him/herself to be involved in R&S activities (OR 1.83, 95% CI 0.97–3.45).

Conclusions

Two-thirds of patients undergoing cancer-directed surgery expressed a desire to have R&S incorporated into their cancer treatment. Incorporating R&S into cancer treatment can help a subset of patients throughout their cancer experience.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Elizabeth Palmer Kelly PhD & Stephanie DiFilippo MA

  2. Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Anghela Z. Paredes MD, MS, Madison Hyer MS, Junu Bae PhD, Diamantis I. Tsilimigras MD & Timothy M. Pawlik MD, MPH, MTS, PhD

  3. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Greensburg, PA, USA

    Daniel Rice BS

  4. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Brian Myers & Julia McGee

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  1. Elizabeth Palmer Kelly PhD
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Correspondence to Timothy M. Pawlik MD, MPH, MTS, PhD.

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Palmer Kelly, E., Paredes, A.Z., DiFilippo, S. et al. Do Religious/Spiritual Preferences and Needs of Cancer Patients Vary Based on Clinical- and Treatment-Level Factors?. Ann Surg Oncol 28, 59–66 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-020-08607-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-020-08607-2

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