Spiritual distress in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a longitudinal study

Background Spiritual distress is a nursing diagnosis related to sufering and lack of meaning/purpose in life. However, spiritual distress in clinical practice is often undervalued and neglected in nursing care. Cancer patients go through a complicated health situation in which the spiritual dimension is afected and experienced through spiritual distress. The aim of this study is to assess spiritual distress in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Materials and methods A quantitative, longitudinal, and prospective study conducted in a Hospital Day setting. 332 participants were assessed for spiritual distress before initiating chemotherapy and at three months, six, nine, and twelve-month follow-ups. A questionnaire was used and the outcomes were sociodemographic characteristics, clinical condition, and spiritual distress (Spiritual Distress Scale). Data analyses included descriptive and bivariate statistics, which were conducted with SPSS. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee where the study was conducted. Results At baseline, 56.6% were females, mean age of 60.3 years (SD= ±11.7), and 66.3% were married. At three months, were reached the highest value of spiritual distress, and the score gradually decreased; however, the value of spiritual distress at 12 months was higher than at baseline. Trajectories did not difer signifcantly between man and women, but age and religious afliation was predictor of spiritual distress. Spiritual distress exhibited a negative, weak, statistically signifcant correlation with religious involvement. Conclusions There is an important variation of spiritual distress at three months after the beginning of chemotherapy. These data reinforce the need for spiritual assessment in cancer patients to promote spiritual health and well-being.