Spiritual Well-being Among Palliative Care Patients With Different Religious Affiliations: A Multicenter Korean Study

Seok Joon Yoon, Sang Yeon Suh, Sun Hyun Kim, Jeanno Park, Yu Jung Kim, Beodeul Kang, Youngmin Park, Jung Hye Kwon, Kwonoh Park, Dong Wook Shin, Hyeon Jeong Kim, Hong Yup Ahn, David Hui

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Context: Spiritual well-being (SWB) is very important in palliative care patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the SWB among palliative care patients in Korea with different religious affiliations and to identify the correlates of SWB. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional, multicenter study involving hospitalized patients seen by palliative care teams. We collected data on basic clinicodemographic characteristics, factors related to religion (meaningful religious events, religious activities such as attending worship, individual spiritual activities such as prayer), overall quality of life, and SWB. SWB was measured using Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spirituality 12. We examined the differences in SWB among patients who reported themselves as Protestants, Catholics, Buddhists, and having no religious affiliations. Results: Among the 202 patients enrolled, 69 (34.2%), 48 (23.8%), 43 (21.3%), and 42 (20.8%) persons were Protestants, were Catholics, were Buddhists, and had no religious affiliation, respectively. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spirituality 12 was highest among Protestants, followed by Catholics, Buddhists, and those without religious affiliation (29.8 vs. 27.0 vs. 23.2 vs. 16.3, P < 0.001). The faith subscale (12.4 vs. 10.4 vs. 7.7 vs. 2.5, P < 0.001) showed similar distributions. Christians reported higher SWB in the meaning and the peace subscale than patients without a religious affiliation. In the multivariate analysis, religious affiliation (P < 0.001), individual spiritual activities (P < 0.001), and quality of life (P < 0.001) were significantly related to a greater SWB. Age was inversely associated with the meaning subscale (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Although faith practices may be particularly helpful to improve spiritual well-being among Christians, further research is needed to determine what individual spiritual activities can support non-Christians.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)893-901
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of pain and symptom management
Volume56
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2018

Keywords

  • Spirituality
  • cancer
  • palliative care
  • religiosity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Nursing
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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