The Influence of Awareness of Terminal Condition on Spiritual Well-Being in Terminal Cancer Patients

Abstract

We developed a Spirituality Transcendence Measure (STM) and studied whether awareness of terminal illness affects spiritual well-being in terminal cancer patients. Three sources of spiritual transcendence—the situational, the moral and biographical, and the religious aspect—were assessed in the STM. Cronbach's α of the STM was 0.95, and the principle axis factor analysis extracted only one factor. Thirty-seven terminal cancer patients with male predominance (59.5%) were studied. Awareness of terminal illness was associated with a higher total STM score ( Z = −2.21, P = 0.027), along with the individual scores for each of the three transcendences ( Z = −2.39, P = 0.017; Z = −2.71, P = 0.007; and Z = −1.96, P = 0.050). Acceptance of death was associated with a higher situational score ( Z = 2.01, P = 0.046) and a higher religious score ( Z = −2.27, P = 0.023). Announcement of testament was associated with a higher situational score ( Z = −2.30, P = 0.021). We conclude that awareness of terminal illness is associated with spiritual well-being. Telling the complete truth is necessary even when dealing with terminal conditions.