title: Spiritual well-being of Italian advanced cancer patients in the home palliative care setting.
abstract: This study evaluates the spiritual well-being (SpWB) in very advanced cancer patients assisted by the home palliative care program of ANT Foundation, a no-profit Italian organisation. SpWB was assessed by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp12), including Meaning, Peace, and Faith subscales. The quality-of-life (QoL) was evaluated by using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General scale. Questionnaires were distributed to 1,055 patients and 683 were compiled and evaluable for analysis. The mean scores of FACIT-Sp12 as well as of QoL were notably lower than reference values for cancer survivors. The FACIT-Sp12 score was higher in patients with less impaired Karnofsky Performance Status, fully participating in religious rituals and living in central Italy. A high Pearson's correlation was found between QoL and FACIT-Sp12 (r = .60), Peace (r = .71) and Meaning (r = .52), while it was marginal for Faith (r = .27). The hierarchical regression analysis showed that FACIT-Sp12 is a significant predictor of QoL. The study suggests that Italian patients with advanced cancer assisted by expert multi-professional teams in the home palliative care setting have a low level of SpWB thereby highlighting the need for the integration of spiritual support as part of comprehensive cancer care.
authors.affiliation: ANT Foundation, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1008-8803
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Martoni
authors.affiliation: ANT Foundation, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varani
authors.affiliation: ANT Foundation, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peghetti
authors.affiliation: ANT Foundation, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roganti
authors.affiliation: ANT Foundation, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Volpicella
authors.affiliation: ANT Foundation, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pannuti
authors.affiliation: ANT Foundation, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pannuti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D029181:Spirituality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: advanced cancer; end of life; home Care; palliative care; quality of life; spirituality