Spirituality as a core domain in the assessment of quality of life in oncology.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated including spiritual wellbeing as a core domain in the assessment of quality of life (QOL) in an Australian oncology population.


METHODS
Four hundred and ninety consecutive cancer patients with mixed diagnoses completed the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy--Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-Sp) and the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale.


RESULTS
Overall, 449 patients completed assessments. Spiritual wellbeing demonstrated a significant, positive association with QOL (r=0.59), fighting spirit (r=0.49) and a significant, negative relationship with helplessness/hopelessness (r=-0.47) and anxious preoccupation (r=-0.26). A hierarchical multiple regression showed spiritual wellbeing to be a significant, unique contributor to QOL beyond the core domains of physical, social/family, and emotional wellbeing (R(2) change=0.08, p=0.000). However, high levels of meaning/peace or faith did not appear to significantly impact patients' ability to enjoy life despite chronic symptoms of pain or fatigue, making the current results inconsistent with other findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Results lend further support to the biopsychosocialspiritual model. By failing to assess spiritual wellbeing, the 'true' burden of cancer is likely to be miscalculated. However, at this stage, the exact clinical utility of spirituality assessment is unclear.
Whitford
Hayley S
HS
Royal Adelaide Hospital Cancer Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia. hwhitford@optusnet.com.au
Olver
Ian N
IN
Peterson
Melissa J
MJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D029181:Spirituality; D055815:Young Adult