title: Spiritual needs of persons with advanced cancer.
abstract: Spiritual needs, spiritual distress, and spiritual well-being of patients with terminal illnesses can affect their quality of life. The spiritual needs of patients with advanced cancer have not been widely studied. This study assessed the spiritual needs of 90 patients with advanced cancer who were newly admitted to hospice home care. They completed a demographic data form and the Spiritual Needs Inventory shortly after hospice admission. Scores could range from a low of 17 to a high of 85; study scores were 23 to 83. Results showed great variability in spiritual needs. Being with family was the most frequently cited need (80%), and 50% cited prayer as frequently or always a need. The most frequently cited unmet need was attending religious services. Results suggest the importance of a focus on the spiritual more than the religious in providing care to patients at the end of life.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pastoral Education Program, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hampton
authors.forename: Dana E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.forename: Dudley A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: McMillan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*