Spirituality and quality of life in gynecologic oncology patients.

PURPOSE: The inclusion of spiritual well-being in healthcare assessments can provide insight into patients' needs and coping resources. This study explored the relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life (QOL) in gynecologic oncology patients in an attempt to clarify the significance of spiritual well-being in the assessment process.

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: Eighteen women with gynecologic cancer completed a self-administered questionnaire that obtained sociodemographic, medical, spiritual, and functional information. The Spiritual Well-being Scale was used to assess spiritual well-being, and the Functional Living Index: Cancer (FLIC) measured QOL. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, comparison of means, and analysis of variance.

RESULTS: Patients with gynecologic cancers other than ovarian reported a better QOL and a higher degree of spiritual, existential, and religious well-being. Older patients consistently reported higher degrees of spiritual well-being and QOL than did younger patients. Married patients consistently reported higher degrees of spiritual well-being than patients who were not married (never married or separated). Catholic patients scored higher in degrees of religious and spiritual well-being as well as in FLIC scores than other patients.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Health professionals do not generally assess spiritual well-being in their evaluations of patients' needs. The findings from this study support the inclusion of spirituality as part of routine patient assessment and intervention. Clinical intervention that would increase a patient's level of spiritual awareness and his or her level of comfort associated with a personal perspective on death could help decrease the patient's level of psychosocial distress. Despite the medical establishment's bias to the contrary, religion and spirituality are positively associated with both physical and mental health and may be particularly significant to terminally ill patients. The curricula of medical, nursing, and other health schools should be redesigned appropriately.