Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the spiritual needs of patients suffering from lung cancer in relation to their mental health and quality of life.MethodologyA cross-sectional quantitative study design was employed to investigate 110 lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. A four-part self-assessment instrument was used to gather the data comprising a sheet containing demographic and clinical information, Spiritual Needs Questionnaire, The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items, and the 12-item Health Survey. Descriptive inferential statistics were applied.ResultsOf the 110 patients, 71.8% were men, the mean age was 64.25 (±9.3) years, and 71.8% were married. In total, 40.9% of the patients were retired, and 92.7% had a public insurance company. Regarding education, 30% were primary school graduates and 31.8% were high school graduates. Regarding the clinical features of the sample, 23.6% of the patients had small-cell carcinoma, 71.9% had non-small-cell carcinoma, and 4.5% had large-cell carcinoma. Spiritual needs have a negative effect on the mental health component of quality of life (p < 0.001) and can increase psychological distress in lung cancer patients.ConclusionsIn contrast to the findings of other international studies, spiritual needs appeared to be lower; however, similar to other studies, spiritual needs increased in those suffering from depression and anxiety. Moreover, the subtype of lung cancer also appeared to play a role.
Highlights
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer and one of the major causes of death worldwide [1]
Spiritual needs have a negative effect on the mental health component of quality of life (p < 0.001) and can increase psychological distress in lung cancer patients
In contrast to the findings of other international studies, spiritual needs appeared to be lower; similar to other studies, spiritual needs increased in those suffering from depression and anxiety
Summary
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer and one of the major causes of death worldwide [1]. The diagnosis of lung cancer leads to significant changes in a person’s life due to the short survival time. Psychological symptoms such as depression, loss of interest, and suicidality are often present both during the diagnosis and the course of the disease [2]. Studies have reported a high incidence of depression (33-44%) among patients suffering from lung cancer [2]. Multiple factors affect the quality of life of patients suffering from lung cancer [2]; psychological distress is associated with reduced functionality and reduced quality of life in endstage patients [3]. This study aimed to investigate the spiritual needs of patients suffering from lung cancer in relation to their mental health and quality of life
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