Religion/spirituality and social support in improving the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer

Abstract

Background: The religion/spirituality and social support may improve the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative therapy or palliative care. Objective: To determine if patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative therapy and/or palliative care use religion/ spirituality and social support to cope with the disease, and assess if these aspects improve their quality of life. Methodology: Observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study conducted in a hospital in southern Brazil from January to July 2018. A sociodemographic/clinical questionnaire and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 15 Palliative Care were used. The nonparametric Mann--Whitney test was used for comparative analysis. Results: A total of 107 patients receiving palliative therapy and 19 patients receiving palliative care participated in this study. Religion/spirituality and social support were unanimously used. The presence of a family member as the main caregiver was significant (p = 0.014), predicting a better quality of life. Conclusion: Nurses are responsible for promoting humanized care and the use of religion/spirituality and social support, namely the presence of family caregivers, with a view to improving the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer.