A study on the association of perceived spiritual beliefs, practices, and well-being of breast cancer patients in a tertiary general hospital

ABSTRACT

@#<p style="text-align justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> Among Filipino females, breast cancer is the leading malignancy which warrants palliative care that includes spiritual care to help improve quality of life and well-being.</p><p style="text-align justify;"><strong>Objective:</strong> Determine the associations of perceived spiritual beliefs and spiritual practices with perceived spiritual well-being among breast cancer patients consulting at the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).</p><p style="text-align justify;"><strong>Methods:</strong> This was an analytical cross-sectional study using non-probability convenience sampling of adult females with breast cancer at the UP-PGH Breast Cancer Clinic (BCC). The survey utilized a self-administered questionnaire with sections on general demographics, spiritual beliefs, spiritual practices, and spiritual well-being. Descriptive statistics were used and analysis of associations was done through Fisher's exact test at a 5% level of significance.</p><p style="text-align justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> Among 219 study participants, almost all reported having perceptions of strong spiritual beliefs, adequate spiritual practices, and good spiritual well-being. Associations were found between perceived spiritual beliefs and spiritual well-being (F=51.2, p<0.001; R=0.4, p<0.001) and between perceived spiritual practices and spiritual well-being (F=62.0, p<0.001; R=0.4, p<0.001).</p><p style="text-align justify;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The associations found of perceived spiritual beliefs and spiritual practices with perceived spiritual well-being should be considered in providing spiritual care as part of the comprehensive management and palliative care for Filipino breast cancer patients.</p><p style="text-align justify;"><strong>Key Words</strong> spirituality, well-being, cancer</p>