title: Spiritual growth and decline among patients with cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate spiritual transformation among patients with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university medical center in the midwestern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  47 adult cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were asked about spirituality, religious and spiritual importance, religious coping, and spiritual gain and decline at baseline as well as nine months post-treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Religious importance, religious coping, and spiritual gain or decline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive religious coping at baseline predicted spiritual growth at the nine-month follow-up point. Spiritual decline was predicted by negative religious importance. A bivariate relationship existed between increased levels of negative religious coping and increased spiritual growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive religious coping strategies may influence spiritual transformation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare providers who support a strengths-based perspective on human functioning may be equipped to perform research on spiritual or religious interventions for patients with cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greater use of spiritual resources, even if conceptualized as negative religious coping mechanisms or initial spiritual decline, may contribute to increased levels of spiritual growth later. When acting as expert companions, healthcare providers may facilitate spiritual growth by addressing spiritual transformation, creating safe environments for exploring spirituality, becoming familiar with different religious faiths, and seeking appropriate consultation and referrals for patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, University of Iowa in Iowa City.
authors.forename: Allison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Allmon
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Tallman
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Altmaier
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D012067:Religion; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires