Sankhe, A., Dalal, K., Agarwal, V., & Sarve, P. (2017). Spiritual care therapy on quality of life in cancer patients and their caregivers: A prospective non-randomized single-cohort study. Journal of Religion and Health, 56, 725–731.

DOI Link

Study Purpose

To assess the effects of a spiritual care intervention on the quality of life and spiritual well-being of patients with cancer undergoing surgery

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

A 90-minute spiritual care intervention based on the MATCH (Mercy, Austerity, Truthfulness, Cleanliness, and Holy Name) guideline involving 30 minutes of counseling, reading, and chanting was delivered to patient/caregiver dyads undergoing surgery for cancer daily while in the hospital. Quality of life and spiritual well-being were measured prior to discharge and at one month, two months, and three months.

Sample Characteristics

  • N = 107 
  • MEAN AGE =  Patients: 51 years (SD = 13), caregivers: 39 years (SD = 12.7)
  • MALES: Caregiver information not described
  • FEMALES: Caregiver information not described
  • CURRENT TREATMENT: Not applicable; patients undergoing surgery
  • KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Breast cancer (22%), head and neck cancer (54%), mixed and other cancers (24%)

Setting

  • SITE: Single site   
  • SETTING TYPE: Multiple settings    
  • LOCATION: India

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

  • PHASE OF CARE: End-of-life care
  • APPLICATIONS: Palliative care

Study Design

Prospective, single-arm, repeated-measures trial

Measurement Instruments/Methods

  • Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G)
  • Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Well-being (FACIT-Sp)

Results

Patients and caregivers demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all domains of quality of life and spiritual well-being at all measurements following the intervention.

Conclusions

A spiritual care intervention delivered in a hospital is feasible and has the potential to improve patient and caregiver quality of life and spiritual well-being. Randomized, controlled studies in this area are needed.

Limitations

  • Risk of bias (no control group)
  • Risk of bias (no random assignment) 
  • Risk of bias (no appropriate attentional control condition)
  • Unintended interventions or applicable interventions not described that would influence results
  • Measurement validity/reliability questionable
  • Intervention expensive, impractical, or training needs
  • Questionable protocol fidelity
  • Low return rate
  • Potential for recall bias among both groups surveyed
  • No control group
  • Caregivers not described
  • Little data about the intervention
  • Limited data on the specifics of the actual dose or number of days delivered
  • Single institution in India
  • Unclear how intervention fidelity was maintained
  • Unclear if intervention was administered by several people and, if so, how they ensured high interrator reliability
 

 

Nursing Implications

Addressing spiritual concerns may be an important method to positively affect caregiver quality of life and spiritual well-being.