Spiritual distress in women with breast cancer: a cross-sectional study

Background/aims: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women and the second most common cancer overall (Bray et al., 2018). Cancer affects all dimensions of patients’ life and is a condition for spiritual distress, that is expressed by cancer patients as suffering and related to lack of meaning in life. The aim of this study is to assess spiritual distress in women with breast cancer. Methods: Cross-sectional and prospective study, using a random sample of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Participants from a south hospital in Portugal were invited to participate in this study and fulfilled a questionnaire comprising the “Spiritual Distress Scale” (SDS). This scale is composed of 30 items and scores range between 30 and 120. Data collection was performed from February to June, 2019. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23. Ethical approval was obtained from the institution. Results: Participants were 102 women; mean age of 60.29 (sd=± 11.37); 62% were married; with a religious affiliation (96.8%); and with stage III (45.1%) and stage II of breast cancer (33.3%). The mean score of SDS was 56.61 (sd=± 14.24). In this study 39% women with breast cancer experienced moderate spiritual distress and 4% experienced high levels of spiritual distress. Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.90. Conclusions: Women with breast cancer experience spiritual distress at some level. The scores of the SDS are calling for an urgent inclusion of spiritual care, that could include the assessment, diagnosis, intervention and assessing the outcomes. Also, this scale is a reliable instrument to be used in nursing care aiming to assess spiritual distress and to drive nursing intervention. The inclusion of spirituality could be, then, facilitated by nurses using this scale and including in nursing records.