Spirituality among Latino caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: A qualitative study.

Abstract

180 Background: Caregivers of cancer patients often face significant physical, social, and emotional distress. There has been limited research on the association between Latino Caregivers’ spirituality/religiosity, meaning, and spiritual pain. Methods: We interviewed 336 Latino Caregivers of patients at Palliative Care clinics in Chile, Guatemala, and the US. Five open-ended questions were asked about spirituality, religion, meaning, and spiritual pain. Answers were transcribed and data analyzed. The analytic framework was based on an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Initial themes were grouped into themes, connections between themes were developed until a thematic rationale was achieved. Results: Latino caregivers’spirituality and religious beliefs were described as an anchor during the painful witnessing of a loved-ones’suffering. Main themes emerged about relationships, inner strength, hope, and acceptance/reconciliation. It was reported as an integrative force to help them to cultivate hope and love walking through their love one’s illness and their journey as caregivers. They expressed meaning as a manifestation of spirituality together with their love to others(spouse, family, others). The presence of Spiritual Pain was common and manifested as suffering and potential loss of loved ones, and broken relationship with Higher Power, that triggered a profound experience of their own pain(both spiritual and emotional) and their own quality of life. This was expressed in physical terms such as “heartache” and “soul ache.” Through discernment, prayer, and relationships with loved-ones, spirituality was integrated as a healing force during the caregiver journey. Spirituality was reported as a substance of hope weaved into an integrative process, as caregivers reconciled the tension of faith with sorrow. Conclusions: Spirituality and religious beliefs are reported as fundamental for Latino Caregivers. Despite these elements, Spiritual Pain is common and affects all aspects of their humanity. Most of them experienced a reconciliation experience with the broken relationships with themselves, with others or with Higher Power.