Abstract
After diagnosis of cancer, many patients show more inclination towards religion and religious activities. This qualitative study using semi-structured interviews explored the perspectives and experiences of 17 Iranian cancer patients and their families regarding the role of religion in their adaptation to cancer in one of the hospitals in Tehran and a charity institute. The content analysis identified two themes: "religious beliefs "(illness as God's will, being cured by God's will, belief in God's supportiveness, having faith in God as a relieving factor, and hope in divine healing) and "relationship with God during the illness." In general, relationship with God and religious beliefs had a positive effect on the patients adapting to their condition, without negative consequences such as stopping their treatment process and just waiting to be cured by God. Thus a strengthening of such beliefs, as a coping factor, could be recommended through religious counseling.
Highlights
As a bitter fact and a stress inducing factor, today chronic diseases - such as cancer - have affected millions of lives (Montaseri and Sharif, 2008)
The participants of this study consisted of 17 participants including: 11 cancer patients who were being treated at a hospital and one of the special charity institutes for cancer patients in Tehran and 6 members of the patients’ families
The present study indicated that most of the cancer patients and their families in Iran were of this religious view that their illness had occurred by the will of God
Summary
As a bitter fact and a stress inducing factor, today chronic diseases - such as cancer - have affected millions of lives (Montaseri and Sharif, 2008). According to the predictions of the World Health Organization (WHO), the year 2000 figure of 10 million people suffering from cancer will reach 15 million by 2020. This organization has further forecasted that cancer-related mortality will reach 9 million by 2015. The key point about the induced stress is the way of responding or reacting to the illness, which could play a significant role in the individual’s adaptation. This point has been focused upon in this research under the title of coping strategies (Nasirzadeh and Rassolzadeh Tabatabaie, 2009)
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