Religiosity and spirituality of women with breast cancer

A qualitative study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35699/2316-9389.2024.49698

Keywords:

Spirituality, Religion, Breast Neoplasms

Abstract

Objective: to describe the meanings of spirituality and religiosity for women with breast cancer. Method: this is a qualitative, descriptive research, conducted from July to October 2023, through interviews with 15 women undergoing treatment or outpatient follow-up, in two large hospitals in a city in the Zona da Mata Mineira. Result: the participants revealed that, through their beliefs, religion, and faith, they were able to face and overcome obstacles. In addition, they reported that the diagnosis of breast cancer caused their spirituality, belief, and attachment to God to increase. They emphasized that prayers began to be said in different places besides the church, using the moments to thank and ask for help, which helped them, giving strength and relief during the treatment. Conclusion: the women showed a greater connection to religiosity and spirituality, which promoted their redefinition throughout the breast cancer treatment. The positive effects and use of all these as a coping strategy, source of support, comfort, and hope during the therapeutic process were evident.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin [Internet]. 2024[citado em 2024 maio 25];74(3):229-63. Disponível em: https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21834

Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva. Estimativa 2023 Incidência de Câncer no Brasil. 2022[citado em 2023 nov. 2]. Disponível em: https://www.inca.gov.br/sites/ufu.sti.inca.local/files//media/document//estimativa-2023.pdf

Viana SFS, Souza IEO, Paiva ACPC, Chagas MC, Amorim TV, Pacheco ZML, et al. Conceito vivido de sobrevivente ao câncer de mama: direcionamentos para cuidados de enfermagem e saúde. Rev Gaúch Enferm [Internet]. 2022[citado em 2024 jan. 12];43:e20220095. Disponível em: https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/rgenf/article/view/127702/86546

Dewan MF, Lyons KS, Song M, Hassouneh D. Factors associated with depression in breast cancer patients in Saudi Arabia. Cancer Nurs [Internet]. 2022[citado em 2023 dez. 19];45(2):E524–30. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34380962/

Ciria-Suarez L, Jiménez-Fonseca P, Palacín-Lois M, Antoñanzas-Basa M, Fernández-Montes A, Manzano-Fernández A, et al. Breast cancer patient experiences through a journey map: a qualitative study. PLoS One [Internet]. 2021[citado em 2024 maio 25];16(9):e0257680. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34550996/

Palmer KE, Paredes AZ, Tsilimigras DI, Hyer JM, Pawlik TM. The role of religion and spirituality in cancer care: An umbrella review of the literature. Surg Oncol [Internet]. 2022[citado em 2024 maio 25];42:101389. Disponível em: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960740420303236

Puchalski C, Ferrell B, Virani R, Otis-Green S, Baird P, Bull J, et al. Improving the quality of spiritual care as a dimension of palliative care: The report of the consensus conference. J Palliat Med [Internet]. 2009[citado em 2023 dez. 19];12(10):885–904. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19807235/

Sena MAB, Damiano RF, Lucchetti G, Peres MFP. Defining spirituality in healthcare: A systematic review and conceptual framework. Front Psychol [Internet]. 2021[citado em 2023 abr. 14];12. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34867654/

Koenig HG. Religion, spirituality, and health: the research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry [Internet]. 2012[citado em 2023 dez. 19];278730. Disponível em: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671693/

Ahuja NJ, Nguyen A, Winter SJ, Freeman M, Shi R, Rodriguez Espinosa P, et al. Well-being without a roof: Examining well-being among unhoused individuals using mixed methods and propensity score matching. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2020 [citado em 2023 dez. 19];17(19):7228. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33023231/

Sherman AC, Merluzzi TV, Pustejovsky JE, Park CL, George L, Fitchett G, Jim HS, Munoz AR, Danhauer SC, Snyder MA, Salsman JM. A meta-analytic review of religious or spiritual involvement and social health among cancer patients. Cancer [Internet]. 2015 [citado em 2024 maio 26];121(21):3779-88. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26258730/

Afaya A, Anaba EA, Bam V, Afaya RA, Yahaya AR, Seidu AA, et al. Socio-cultural beliefs and perceptions influencing diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer among women in Ghana: a systematic review. BMC Women's Health [Internet] 2024 [citado em 2024 maio 26];24(1):288. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03106-y

Majda A, Szul N, Kołodziej K, Wojcieszek A, Pucko Z, Bakun K. Influence of spirituality and religiosity of cancer patients on their quality of life. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2022[citado em 2023 dez. 19];19(9):4952. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35564346/

Jim HS, Pustejovsky JE, Park CL, Danhauer SC, Sherman AC, Fitchett G, et al. Religion, spirituality, and physical health in cancer patients: A meta-analysis. Cancer [Internet]. 2015 [citado em 2024 maio 26];121(21):3760-8. Disponível em: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cncr.29353.

Oliveira LAF, Oliveira AL, Ferreira MA. Formação de enfermeiros e estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem sobre o tema da espiritualidade. Esc Anna Nery Rev Enferm[Internet]. 2021 [citado em 2023 out. 10];25(5):e20210062. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/ean/a/MLwXFr6mDcnyfd8zdg5BW7w/?lang=pt

Borges ML, Duarte AM, Capovilla GP. Vista do O conhecimento dos graduandos de enfermagem sobre o cuidado espiritual na prática clínica. HU Rev [Internet]. 2021 [citado em 2023 out. 10];47:1-9. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufjf.br/index.php/hurevista/article/view/32992/23189

Vitorino LM, Machado Teixeira PH, Dominato PC, de Azevedo MPC, Resende MM, Lucchetti G. The effectiveness of spiritual care training on medical students' self-reported competencies: A quasi-experimental study. Palliat Support Care [Internet]. 2024 [citado em 2024 maio 26];22(2):251-7. Disponível em: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1478951523000408

Padoin SMM, Terra MG, Paula CC, Langendorf TF, Siqueira DF, Motta MGC, et al. Pesquisa qualitativa apoiada no referencial teórico da fenomenologia. In: Lacerda MR; Ribeiro RP, Costenaro RGS. Metodologia da pesquisa para a enfermagem e saúde: da teoria à prática. Porto Alegre: Moriá; 2016. 496 p.

Henriques CMG, Botelho MAR; Catarino HCP. A fenomenologia como método aplicado à ciência de enfermagem: estudo de investigação. Ciênc Saúde Colet [Internet]. 2021 [citado em 2024 maio 21];26(2):511-9. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232021262.41042020

Conselho Nacional de Saúde (BR). Resolução no 466, de 12 de dezembro de 2012. Brasília, DF: Diário Oficial da União; 2012 [citado em 2023 dez. 19]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/ebserh/pt-br/ensino-e-pesquisa/pesquisa-clinica/resolucao-466.pdf

Minayo MCS. O desafio do conhecimento: pesquisa qualitativa em saúde. São Paulo; Atlas; 2014.

Patiyal N, Pandey V, Kumar A. Lived experiences of post-mastectomy women: A qualitative study of Western Rajasthan. J Educ Health Promot [Internet]. 2023 [citado em 2023 out. 20];12(1):275. Disponível em: http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1591_22

Brandes S, Kemczenski ACT, Niespodzinski AP, Souza AIACM, Barbier G, Silva JC, et al. Espiritualidade e dor em pacientes com câncer de mama metastático. Rev Bioét [Internet]. 2023 [citado em 2023 out. 10];31:e3262PT. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/bioet/a/jDVDpRxG6BqVdHgvy5W5HqN/?lang=pt

Brito PKH, Carneiro AF, Silva RDJRD, Barbalho ILA, Lima MAG de, Fernandes MC. Formas de enfrentamento do câncer de mama: discurso de mulheres mastectomizadas. Enferm Actual Costa Rica [Internet]. 2023 [citado em 2023 out. 20];(45). Disponível em: https://search.bvsalud.org/portal/resource/pt/biblio-1520870

Ko NY, Fikre TG, Buck AK, Restrepo E, Warner ET. Breast cancer survivorship experiences among Black women. Cancer [Internet]. 2023 [citado em 2023 nov. 2];129(S19):3087–101. Disponível em: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34634

Ogunkorode A, Holtslander L, Ferguson L, Maree JE, Anonson J, Ramsden VR. Factors influencing the health-seeking behaviors of women with advanced stages of breast cancer in Southwestern Nigeria: An interpretive description study. Int J Afr Nurs Sci [Internet]. 2021 [citado 2023 out. 23];14(100273):100273. Disponível em: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139120301505

Manouchehri E, Taghipour A, Ebadi A, Homaei Shandiz F, Latifnejad Roudsari R. How do I deal with breast cancer: a qualitative inquiry into the coping strategies of Iranian women survivors. BMC Womens Health [Internet]. 2022 [citado em 2023 dez. 19];22(1). Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35804362/

Guo Y-Q, Ju Q-M, You M, Yusuf A, Wu Y, Soon LK. A qualitative study on coping strategies of Chinese women with metastatic breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Front Psychol [Internet]. 2022 [citado em 2023 out. 20];13. Disponível em: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.841963

Hajian-Tilaki E, Hajian-Tilaki K, Moslemi D, Godazandeh G, Firouzbakht M. Association of social support, spirituality with psychological factors in Iranian breast cancer survivors: An evidence from a cross‐sectional study. Nurs Open [Internet]. 2022 [citado em 2023 out. 20];9(2):1173–80. Disponível em: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1158

Leão DCMR, Pereira ER, Silva RMCRA, Rocha RCNP, Cruz-Quintana F, García-Caro MP. Spiritual and emotional experience with a diagnosis of breast cancer: A scoping review. Cancer Nurs [Internet]. 2022 [citado em 2023 dez. 20];45(3):224–35. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33654011/

Fu X, Sun J, Wang X, Cui M, Zhang Q. Research progress on influencing factors and intervention measures of post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. Front Public Health [Internet]. 2022 [citado em 2023 out. 20];10:927370. Disponível em: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.927370

Silva CP, Reis APA. Spiritual/Religious Support for Nursing in the Treatment of Breast Cancer: Integrative Review. Rev Pesq Cuidado Fundam Online [Internet]. 2023 [citado em 2024 maio 26];16:e13061. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.9789/2175-5361.rpcfo.v16.13061

O’Connell-Persaud S, Isaacson MJ. Undergraduate nursing students’ spirituality and perceived ability to provide spiritual care: A mixed-method study. J Holist Nurs [Internet]. 2022 [citado em 2023 nov. 2]40(1):36–45. Disponível em: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/08980101211034336

Additional Files

Published

2024-12-27

Issue

Vol. 28 (2024)

Section

Research

License

Copyright (c) 2024 REME-Revista Mineira de Enfermagem

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

1.
Religiosity and spirituality of women with breast cancer: A qualitative study. REME Rev Min Enferm. [Internet]. 2024 Dec. 27 [cited 2025 Dec. 25];28(1). Available from: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/reme/article/view/49698

Most read articles by the same author(s)