Role of religion in Chinese breast cancer patient

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients faced a lot of physical and psychological challenges during their treatment. Lots of psychosocial intervention groups had been provided to cater their physical needs (fatigue, poor eating appetite), treat mentside-effects (fatigue, poor sleeping quality) and emotional turmoil (anxious, fear and depressive mood). However, less is being address on religious aspect. In this study, the importance of religiosity would be studied among the Chinese breast cancer patients. METHOD: Subjects were 140 cancer patients receiving radiotherapy treatment for their breast cancer. Participants were recruited from two local hospitals and community cancer support organization in Hong Kong. All of them were asked to fill in a set of self-reported questionnaires including a self-rated religiosity question and quality of life scale before their commencement of radiotherapy treatment. RESULTS: Overall, 78participants had no religious background and 62 participants had different religious backgrounds (Catholic, Christian, Buddhism and Traditional Chinese Beliefs). Among religious participants, higher levels of religiosity were positively related with quality of life scale and associated with lower levels of distress. Positive rating on their relation-ship with religion was related to better social well-being (p < 0.05), emotional well-being (p < 0.01), functional well-being (p < 0.05) and better overall quality of life (p < 0.01). The relationship with religion was also influenced the self-perceived stress level (p < 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Our research found out that the beliefs in religious had positively effect on the social, emotional, functional and over-all quality of life of Chinese breast cancer patients. Moreover, it had influence on the perceived distress level. RESEARCH IMPLICATIONS: Limited research had been done on studying the importance on the role of spirituality or religiosity on cancer patients. This study may reveal the role of religious on Chinese breast cancer patients. And how did their religious beliefs affected their psychosocial well-being and holistic health. CLINICAL IMPLI-CATIONS: Different religion had different religious beliefs and values which are affecting how people live their lives. In our study, it proved that religious beliefs were influencing cancer patients. Although they were having different religious back-grounds, they were also being affected by their spiritual beliefs. Religion was not only affecting their spiritual health, but also their physical and psychological health. Clinician and practitioner should address on the importance and values of religiosity in different psychosocial interventions.