Stein Emma M, Kolidas Evelyn, Moadel Alyson
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology,Bronx, New York.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine,Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Bronx, New York.
Palliat Support Care. 2015 Feb;13(1):19-25. doi: 10.1017/S1478951513000217. Epub 2013 Aug 6.
This study examines religion and spirituality among advanced cancer patients from an underserved, ethnically-diverse population by exploring patient conceptualizations of religion and spirituality, the role of religion and spirituality in coping with cancer, and patient interest in spiritual support.
Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients who had participated in a study of a "mind-body" support group for patients with all cancer types. Analysis based on grounded theory was utilized to identify themes and theoretical constructs.
With regard to patient conceptualizations of religion and spirituality, three categories emerged: (1) Spirituality is intertwined with organized religion; (2) Religion is one manifestation of the broader construct of spirituality; (3) Religion and spirituality are completely independent, with spirituality being desirable and religion not. Religion and spirituality played a central role in patients' coping with cancer, providing comfort, hope, and meaning. Patients diverged when it came to spiritual support, with some enthusiastic about interventions incorporating their spiritual values and others stating that they already get this support through religious communities.
Spirituality plays a central role in the cancer experience of this underserved ethnically-diverse population. While spirituality seems to be a universal concern in advanced cancer patients, the meaning of spirituality differs across individuals, with some equating it with organized religion and others taking a more individualized approach. It is important that psychosocial interventions are developed to address this concern. Future research is needed to further explore the different ways that patients conceptualize spirituality and to develop spiritually-based treatments that are not "one size fits all."
本研究通过探索患者对宗教与灵性的概念化理解、宗教与灵性在应对癌症中的作用以及患者对灵性支持的兴趣，考察来自服务不足、种族多样人群的晚期癌症患者的宗教与灵性情况。
对参加过针对所有癌症类型患者的“身心”支持小组研究的患者进行定性半结构式访谈。运用基于扎根理论的分析方法来确定主题和理论架构。
关于患者对宗教与灵性的概念化理解，出现了三类情况：（1）灵性与有组织的宗教相互交织；（2）宗教是更广泛的灵性概念的一种表现形式；（3）宗教与灵性完全独立，灵性是可取的而宗教不是。宗教与灵性在患者应对癌症过程中发挥了核心作用，提供了安慰、希望和意义。在灵性支持方面患者存在分歧，一些人热衷于融入其灵性价值观的干预措施，而另一些人则表示他们已经通过宗教团体获得了这种支持。
灵性在这个服务不足、种族多样人群的癌症经历中起着核心作用。虽然灵性似乎是晚期癌症患者普遍关注的问题，但灵性的含义因人而异，有些人将其等同于有组织宗教，而另一些人则采取更个性化的方式。开发解决这一问题的心理社会干预措施很重要。未来需要进一步研究，以进一步探索患者概念化灵性的不同方式，并开发并非“一刀切”的基于灵性的治疗方法。
