Spiritual interventions are approaches that involve religious or existential aspects such as finding meaning and purpose in life. Spiritual interventions may include activities such as spiritual counseling, meaning-focused meditation, or psychotherapy. Religiously oriented spiritual interventions include activities such as prayer, worship, and religious rituals. Spiritual interventions have been studied for their effects on anxiety and depression among patients with cancer.
Mosher, C.E., Secinti, E., Johns, S.A., O'Neil, B.H., Helft, P.R., Shahda, S., . . . Champion, V.L. (2017). Examining the effect of peer helping in a coping skills intervention: A randomized controlled trial for advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients and their family caregivers. Quality of Life Research, 27, 515–528.
To test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a spiritual-focused peer helping intervention on dyads of caregivers and patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer
Dyads received five weekly 50- to 60-minute telephone sessions simultaneously. Trained PhD students in clinical psychology administered the sessions. The intervention involved that a dyad creates informational handout focusing on QOL for other patients and caregivers, which will be made available as a resource to other patients/caregivers. Dyads received identical handouts of informational resources and a CD for relaxation exercises. Dyads received four sessions; the therapist introduced a session topic each time and asked a dyad about their advice relevant to the topic. Afterward, the dyad reviewed a handout listing evidence-based coping skills related to the topic session and the therapist asked them which skills they thought were most helpful to others. An in-session practice of one or more coping skills was also conducted. Lastly, a dyad was asked to set goals related to the session for the upcoming week, which were evaluated in the subsequent session. The session topics were managing physical symptoms in both session 1 and 2, stress in session 3, and maintaining relationships in session 4. In session 5, a therapist reviewed the handout and asked a dyad to critique and provide final advice for others on coping with the cancer. Assessments were done at 1 and 5 weeks postintervention.
Randomized control trial. An individual external to the study performed the randomization; the trained research assistants administering the assessments were blind to study condition.
Primary outcome:
Secondary outcomes:
Feasibility was assessed by study recruitment and retention rates; acceptability was assessed by post-treatment rating of helpfulness of the intervention.
78% completed all five sessions, showing feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. The dyads rated the sessions as helpful. In mixed regression model analyses, there was a time by group effect on life meaning/peace in the intervention group (d = 0.53, p = 0.01). No significant main effect of study group or time x group on the secondary outcomes (anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, general distress, coping, self-efficacy, or emotional support). There was a significant small main effect of role (as being patient or caregiver) and time on fatigue; patients had more fatigue and caregivers had more anxiety. Caregivers had a small decrease in distress on each follow-up relative to baseline. There was a main effect of role on emotional support, patients reported higher level of emotional support than caregivers. No main effect of group or time x group on CG burden.
Compared to coping skills alone, the five-session intervention focusing on involving peer helping plus coping skills did not impact caregiver outcomes.
Telephone interventions with caregivers/patients may be feasible and acceptable but may not bring about meaningful spiritual benefits if sessions are short and relatively small in number. More research is needed to assess the effect of spiritual-based interventions on caregiver outcomes.
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.
To assess the effects of a spiritual care intervention on the quality of life and spiritual well-being of patients with cancer undergoing surgery
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.
Prospective, single-arm, repeated-measures trial
Patients and caregivers demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all domains of quality of life and spiritual well-being at all measurements following the intervention.
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.
Addressing spiritual concerns may be an important method to positively affect caregiver quality of life and spiritual well-being.