title: Religious belief as a coping strategy: an explorative trial in patients irradiated for head-and-neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of religious belief in coping with disease symptoms and treatment-related side effects in patients with head-and-neck cancer under radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospectively collected data were used with a cohort of head-and-neck cancer patients treated by radiotherapy and epoetin beta or placebo within a double-blind multicenter trial. All patients were divided into believers and nonbelievers. Answers to a quality of life questionnaire at four points in time during radiotherapy were analyzed according to both groups. Clinical parameters and therapy side effects were controlled regularly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  62.1% of the patients (66/105) sent back a baseline questionnaire discriminating between believers and nonbelievers. For 34.2% (40/105) data of all four measures could be obtained. On average, believers felt better in all categories of side effects at all points of time before, during and directly after therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Religious faith seems to play an important role in coping strategies of radiotherapy patients. More research in this area would be worthwhile.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Clinic, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Gerhild
authors: G
authors: Becker
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Momm
authors: Carola
authors: C
authors: Xander
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Bartelt
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Zander-Heinz
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Budischewski
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Domin
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Henke
authors: Irenäus A
authors: IA
authors: Adamietz
authors: Hermann
authors: H
authors: Frommhold