Use of Religion: An Effective Method of Coping among Chinese Patients with Cancer
Affiliation(s)
1 School of Nursing, Taishan Medical University, Taian, China. 2 School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA. 3 Taishan Vocational College of Nursing, Taian, China.
1 School of Nursing, Taishan Medical University, Taian, China. 2 School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA. 3 Taishan Vocational College of Nursing, Taian, China.
ABSTRACT
Religion and/or spirituality (R/S) plays a variety of important and inter-related roles for most advanced cancer patients. It has confirmed that religious involvement helps the patients to ease stress and provides individuals with positive coping strategies. However, much less attention has been given to how religion has been used to cope with cancer in China. The aim of this study was to explore the self-adjustment and experiences of religious coping among Chinese patients with cancer. A qualitative descriptive approach was chosen for this investigation. 16 Chinese patients with cancer were recruited from 4 hospitals in Tai’an, Shandong, China from April 2013 to October 2013 and completed 0.5 - 1 hour of in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed by modification of Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Three themes were derived from the experiences of the participants: 1) self-adjustment including cognitive adjustment, faith adjustment and behavior adjustment; 2) the experience of religion coping with the cancer patients including emotional, physical and social aspect; 3) hope and power including the hope to heal, to survive from cancer, and to live longer, the cure, the spiritual supporter and the helper. The use of religion is an effective method for patients coping with cancer. Cancer patients use religion to obtain physiological, psychological, and spiritual comfort. Such knowledge is imperative for evidence-based nursing practice. As point of care providers, staff nurses are well poised to design systems and processes to accomplish the goals of providing excellent nursing care, which is reflective of a holistic and multicultural environment.
Religion and/or spirituality (R/S) plays a variety of important and inter-related roles for most advanced cancer patients. It has confirmed that religious involvement helps the patients to ease stress and provides individuals with positive coping strategies. However, much less attention has been given to how religion has been used to cope with cancer in China. The aim of this study was to explore the self-adjustment and experiences of religious coping among Chinese patients with cancer. A qualitative descriptive approach was chosen for this investigation. 16 Chinese patients with cancer were recruited from 4 hospitals in Tai’an, Shandong, China from April 2013 to October 2013 and completed 0.5 - 1 hour of in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed by modification of Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Three themes were derived from the experiences of the participants: 1) self-adjustment including cognitive adjustment, faith adjustment and behavior adjustment; 2) the experience of religion coping with the cancer patients including emotional, physical and social aspect; 3) hope and power including the hope to heal, to survive from cancer, and to live longer, the cure, the spiritual supporter and the helper. The use of religion is an effective method for patients coping with cancer. Cancer patients use religion to obtain physiological, psychological, and spiritual comfort. Such knowledge is imperative for evidence-based nursing practice. As point of care providers, staff nurses are well poised to design systems and processes to accomplish the goals of providing excellent nursing care, which is reflective of a holistic and multicultural environment.
Cite this paper
Liu, H. , Shi, H. , Yang, Q. , Rowlands, A. and Han, M. (2015) Use of Religion: An Effective Method of Coping among Chinese Patients with Cancer. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 893-899. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.510094.
Liu, H. , Shi, H. , Yang, Q. , Rowlands, A. and Han, M. (2015) Use of Religion: An Effective Method of Coping among Chinese Patients with Cancer. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 893-899. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.510094.
References
[1] Liu, J., Yang, X.L., Li, A., Chen, W.Q., Ji, L., Zhao, J., Yan, W., Chen, Y.Y. and Zhu, L.P. (2014) Epidemiological Patterns of Cancer Incidence in Southern China: Based on 6 Population-based Cancer Registries. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer, 15, 1471-1475.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.3.1471 [2] Massie, M.J. and Holland, J.C. (1987) Consultation and Liaison Issues in Cancer Care. Psychiatric Medicine, 5, 343-359. [3] Derogatis, L.R. and Melisaratos, N. (1983) The Brief Symptom Inventory: An Introductory Report. Psychological Medicine, 13, 596-605.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033291700048017 [4] Derogatis, L.R., Morrow, G.R., Fetting, J., Penman, D., Piasetsky, S., Schmale, A.M., Henrichs, M. and Carnicke, C.L. (1983) The Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders among Cancer Patients. Journal of the American Medical Association, 249, 751-757.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1983.03330300035030 [5] Kimberly, K.L., Sandra, G.Z. and John, P.B. (2004) The Role of Spirituality in the Psychological Adjustment to Cancer: A Test of the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 11, 48-55.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1101_6 [6] Koening, H.G., Cohen, H.J., Blazer, D.G., Pieper, C., Meador, K.G., Shelp, F., Goli, V. and DiPasquale, B. (1992) Religious Coping and Depression among Elderly, Hospitalized Medically Ill Men. Annals of General Psychiatry, 149, 1639-1770. [7] Koenig, H.G., George, L.K. and Siegler, I.C. (1988) The Use of Religion and Other Emotion-Regulating Coping Strategies among Older Adults. Gerontologist, 28, 303-310.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/28.3.303 [8] Sara, R., Michael, J., Holly, G., Amy, R., Andrea, C., Alexi, A., Susan, D., John, R., Lisa, A. and Tracy, A. (2010) “If God Wanted Me Yesterday, I Wouldn’t Be Here Today”: Religious and Spiritual Themes in Patients’ Experience of Advanced Cancer. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 13, 581-588.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2009.0343 [9] Astrow, A.B., Wexler, A., Texeira, K., He, M.K. and Sulmasy, D.P. (2007) Is Failure to Meet Spiritual Needs Associated with Cancer Patients’ Perceptions of Quality of Care and Their Satisfaction with Care? Journal of Clinical Oncology, 25, 5753-5757.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2007.12.4362 [10] Moadel, A., Morgan, C., Fatone, A., Grennan, J., Carter, J., Laruffa, G., Skummy, A. and Dutcher, J. (1998) Seeking Meaning and Hope: Self-Reported Spiritual and Existential Needs among an Ethnically-Diverse Cancer Patient Population. Psychooncology, 8, 378-385.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1611(199909/10)8:5<378::AID-PON406>3.0.CO;2-A [11] Holt, C.L., Qi, M. and Wang, L.C. (2011) Role of Religious Involvement and Spirituality in Functioning among African Americans with Cancer: Testing a Meditational Model. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 34, 437-448.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10865-010-9310-8 [12] Kune, G.A., Kune, S. and Watson, L.F. (1992) The Effect of Family History of Cancer, Religion, Parity and Migrant Status on Survival in Colorectal Cancer: The Melbourne Colorectal Cancer Study. European Journal of Cancer, 28, 1484-1487.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0959-8049(92)90549-H [13] Abernethy, A.D., Chang, H.T., Seidlitz, L., Evinger, J.S. and Duberstein, P.R. (2002) Religious Coping and Depression among Spouses of People with Lung Cancer. Psychosomatics, 43, 456-463.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.psy.43.6.456 [14] Pargament, K.I. and Smith, B.W. (1998) Patterns of Positive and Negative Religious Coping with Major Life Stressors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37, 710-724.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1388152 [15] Balboni, T.A., Vanderwerker, L.C. and Block, S.D. (2007) Religiousness and Spiritual Support among Advanced Cancer Patients and Associations with End of Life Treatment Preferences and Quality of Life. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 25, 555-560.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2006.07.9046 [16] Turunen, H., Perälä, M.L. and Meriläinen, P. (1994) Modification of Colaizzi’s Phenomenological Method: A Study Concerning Quality Care. Hoitotiede, 6, 8-15. [17] Moustakas, C. (1994) Phenomenological Research Method. Sage, London. [18] Frankl, V.E. (1958) The Will to Meaning. Journal of Pastoral Care, 12, 82-88. [19] Frankl, V.E. (1966) What Is Meant by Meaning? Journal of Existentialism, 6, 21-28. [20] Albaugh, J.A. (2003) Spiritual and Life-Threatening Illness: A Phenomenologic Study. Oncology Nursing Forum, 30, 593-598.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1188/03.ONF.593-598 [21] Lin, B. (2002) On the Psychological Function of Religious Belief. Journal of Fujian Teachers University, 2, 125-129. (In Chinese) [22] Trevino, K.M., Balboni, M., Zollfrank, A., Balboni, T. and Prigerson, H.G. (2014) Negative Religious Coping as a Correlate of Suicidal Ideation in Patients with Advanced Cancer. Psychooncology, 23, 936-945.
[1] Liu, J., Yang, X.L., Li, A., Chen, W.Q., Ji, L., Zhao, J., Yan, W., Chen, Y.Y. and Zhu, L.P. (2014) Epidemiological Patterns of Cancer Incidence in Southern China: Based on 6 Population-based Cancer Registries. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer, 15, 1471-1475.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.3.1471 [2] Massie, M.J. and Holland, J.C. (1987) Consultation and Liaison Issues in Cancer Care. Psychiatric Medicine, 5, 343-359. [3] Derogatis, L.R. and Melisaratos, N. (1983) The Brief Symptom Inventory: An Introductory Report. Psychological Medicine, 13, 596-605.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033291700048017 [4] Derogatis, L.R., Morrow, G.R., Fetting, J., Penman, D., Piasetsky, S., Schmale, A.M., Henrichs, M. and Carnicke, C.L. (1983) The Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders among Cancer Patients. Journal of the American Medical Association, 249, 751-757.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1983.03330300035030 [5] Kimberly, K.L., Sandra, G.Z. and John, P.B. (2004) The Role of Spirituality in the Psychological Adjustment to Cancer: A Test of the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 11, 48-55.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1101_6 [6] Koening, H.G., Cohen, H.J., Blazer, D.G., Pieper, C., Meador, K.G., Shelp, F., Goli, V. and DiPasquale, B. (1992) Religious Coping and Depression among Elderly, Hospitalized Medically Ill Men. Annals of General Psychiatry, 149, 1639-1770. [7] Koenig, H.G., George, L.K. and Siegler, I.C. (1988) The Use of Religion and Other Emotion-Regulating Coping Strategies among Older Adults. Gerontologist, 28, 303-310.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/28.3.303 [8] Sara, R., Michael, J., Holly, G., Amy, R., Andrea, C., Alexi, A., Susan, D., John, R., Lisa, A. and Tracy, A. (2010) “If God Wanted Me Yesterday, I Wouldn’t Be Here Today”: Religious and Spiritual Themes in Patients’ Experience of Advanced Cancer. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 13, 581-588.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2009.0343 [9] Astrow, A.B., Wexler, A., Texeira, K., He, M.K. and Sulmasy, D.P. (2007) Is Failure to Meet Spiritual Needs Associated with Cancer Patients’ Perceptions of Quality of Care and Their Satisfaction with Care? Journal of Clinical Oncology, 25, 5753-5757.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2007.12.4362 [10] Moadel, A., Morgan, C., Fatone, A., Grennan, J., Carter, J., Laruffa, G., Skummy, A. and Dutcher, J. (1998) Seeking Meaning and Hope: Self-Reported Spiritual and Existential Needs among an Ethnically-Diverse Cancer Patient Population. Psychooncology, 8, 378-385.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1611(199909/10)8:5<378::AID-PON406>3.0.CO;2-A [11] Holt, C.L., Qi, M. and Wang, L.C. (2011) Role of Religious Involvement and Spirituality in Functioning among African Americans with Cancer: Testing a Meditational Model. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 34, 437-448.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10865-010-9310-8 [12] Kune, G.A., Kune, S. and Watson, L.F. (1992) The Effect of Family History of Cancer, Religion, Parity and Migrant Status on Survival in Colorectal Cancer: The Melbourne Colorectal Cancer Study. European Journal of Cancer, 28, 1484-1487.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0959-8049(92)90549-H [13] Abernethy, A.D., Chang, H.T., Seidlitz, L., Evinger, J.S. and Duberstein, P.R. (2002) Religious Coping and Depression among Spouses of People with Lung Cancer. Psychosomatics, 43, 456-463.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.psy.43.6.456 [14] Pargament, K.I. and Smith, B.W. (1998) Patterns of Positive and Negative Religious Coping with Major Life Stressors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37, 710-724.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1388152 [15] Balboni, T.A., Vanderwerker, L.C. and Block, S.D. (2007) Religiousness and Spiritual Support among Advanced Cancer Patients and Associations with End of Life Treatment Preferences and Quality of Life. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 25, 555-560.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2006.07.9046 [16] Turunen, H., Perälä, M.L. and Meriläinen, P. (1994) Modification of Colaizzi’s Phenomenological Method: A Study Concerning Quality Care. Hoitotiede, 6, 8-15. [17] Moustakas, C. (1994) Phenomenological Research Method. Sage, London. [18] Frankl, V.E. (1958) The Will to Meaning. Journal of Pastoral Care, 12, 82-88. [19] Frankl, V.E. (1966) What Is Meant by Meaning? Journal of Existentialism, 6, 21-28. [20] Albaugh, J.A. (2003) Spiritual and Life-Threatening Illness: A Phenomenologic Study. Oncology Nursing Forum, 30, 593-598.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1188/03.ONF.593-598 [21] Lin, B. (2002) On the Psychological Function of Religious Belief. Journal of Fujian Teachers University, 2, 125-129. (In Chinese) [22] Trevino, K.M., Balboni, M., Zollfrank, A., Balboni, T. and Prigerson, H.G. (2014) Negative Religious Coping as a Correlate of Suicidal Ideation in Patients with Advanced Cancer. Psychooncology, 23, 936-945.