Religiosity, spirituality, and the quality of life of patients with sequelae of head and neck cancer

摘要

Abstract Objectives To investigate associations between religiosity, spirituality and quality of life (QoL) in patients with visible sequelae due to head and neck cancer surgery. Subject and Methods Cross‐sectional study in 202 patients in a cancer hospital in Brazil. Psychosocial, demographic and clinical conditions were collected through interviews, clinical examinations and from the medical records. The outcome was QoL, measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Head and Neck (FACT‐HN) and the University of Washington QoL Questionnaire for patients with head and neck cancer (UW‐QOL). The explanatory variables were religiosity (Duke University Religiosity Index—DUREL) and spirituality (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐Spiritual Well‐Being Scale—FACIT‐Sp12). Pearson's correlation and linear regression were used for data analysis. Results Religiosity and spirituality were associated with both measures of the patients' QoL. After adjustment, higher scores of QoL (FACT‐HN and UW‐QOL) were found in patients with higher levels of religiosity and of spirituality. Other significant covariates were gender (male), those living with their families, with sequelae not involving the cervical region, longer post‐surgical time and who had no chemotherapy or radiation. Conclusion Religiosity and spirituality were associated with the patients' QoL, regardless of their sociodemographic and cancer‐related clinical conditions and behaviours.