Taking a "Leap of Faith"
Investigations of spiritual interventions for cancer patients are disproportionately few compared to the reported importance of religion to Americans. We report on the implementation and evaluation of a spiritual, community-based intervention developed with interdenominational community clergy. Approximately 1200 people attended a total of 3 gatherings: 2 at Roman Catholic and another at a Protestant Church. Respondents to questionnaires evaluating attendee characteristics and satisfaction (n = 209) were predominantly women (85%); 50% were patients and 45% were aged 60 years and older. Men were more likely to be currently under treatment for cancer, while women were more likely to be past patients or friends. Fewer than 2% felt anger or anxiety; attendees felt the service was very (90%) or somewhat (9.5%) helpful and expressed appreciation for cancer program clinician attendance and for hospital sponsorship of the event. Components in order of preference were prayer, music, Scripture, and litany. Logistic regression models reveal that music was most appreciated by previously treated patients, and prayer by currently treated patients. Secular healthcare systems can offer a religious service that comforts and links attendees to a broader community, including clergy and cancer program clinicians. Surveys can identify service components that appeal to differing groups and can facilitate service development.
Studies have demonstrated the importance of religion, and specifically prayer, in the coping behaviors employed by cancer patients, with some noting that significant proportions of cancer patients become more religious after a diagnosis of malignancy. Others have determined that cancer patients have unmet spiritual or existential needs. In contrast with the importance patients attach to spirituality, clinical care and clinical research often omit attention to this area. Although cancer patient support groups are now commonplace cancer program offerings, these are predominantly secular and usually facilitated by social workers or other nonclerical professionals. Few ambulatory cancer programs offer spiritual supports to patients and families, and even fewer offer programs that are clearly religious in nature. This is reflected in the relative absence of research into spiritual issues and their impact on patients, despite the frequent citing of religious beliefs as a coping strategy by patients.
In monotheistic traditions, traditional forms of religious practice such as Scripture, prayer, sacred music, and ritual bring comfort and inspire strength. Among these, individual and collective prayers of petition and intercession are perhaps the most widely used religious practice. Sacred Scripture believed to be the Word of God might also be an additional source for comfort, hope, peace, and strength. Although there are many religious services that are designed for specific occasions in the life cycle, including healing, there are no published worship services specifically designed and studied for their effectiveness in helping not only those who have cancer, but also their family members and their friends (who are often called upon to provide extensive service and support to patients, but who perceive low levels of support for themselves). We set out to design an interfaith service that had broad appeal and created an uplifting and communal experience. We also wanted to determine that a secular hospital and cancer program could reach out to the community and collaborate with area churches to help meet the spiritual needs of those touched by cancer while avoiding interinstitutional conflicts. Finally, we wished to measure the level of satisfaction with the service and its components, discover what portions of the service found favor with attendees, and determine whether different attendees had different responses to and preferences regarding the service.
Investigations of spiritual interventions for cancer patients are disproportionately few compared to the reported importance of religion to Americans. We report on the implementation and evaluation of a spiritual, community-based intervention developed with interdenominational community clergy. Approximately 1200 people attended a total of 3 gatherings: 2 at Roman Catholic and another at a Protestant Church. Respondents to questionnaires evaluating attendee characteristics and satisfaction (n = 209) were predominantly women (85%); 50% were patients and 45% were aged 60 years and older. Men were more likely to be currently under treatment for cancer, while women were more likely to be past patients or friends. Fewer than 2% felt anger or anxiety; attendees felt the service was very (90%) or somewhat (9.5%) helpful and expressed appreciation for cancer program clinician attendance and for hospital sponsorship of the event. Components in order of preference were prayer, music, Scripture, and litany. Logistic regression models reveal that music was most appreciated by previously treated patients, and prayer by currently treated patients. Secular healthcare systems can offer a religious service that comforts and links attendees to a broader community, including clergy and cancer program clinicians. Surveys can identify service components that appeal to differing groups and can facilitate service development.
Studies have demonstrated the importance of religion, and specifically prayer, in the coping behaviors employed by cancer patients, with some noting that significant proportions of cancer patients become more religious after a diagnosis of malignancy. Others have determined that cancer patients have unmet spiritual or existential needs. In contrast with the importance patients attach to spirituality, clinical care and clinical research often omit attention to this area. Although cancer patient support groups are now commonplace cancer program offerings, these are predominantly secular and usually facilitated by social workers or other nonclerical professionals. Few ambulatory cancer programs offer spiritual supports to patients and families, and even fewer offer programs that are clearly religious in nature. This is reflected in the relative absence of research into spiritual issues and their impact on patients, despite the frequent citing of religious beliefs as a coping strategy by patients.
In monotheistic traditions, traditional forms of religious practice such as Scripture, prayer, sacred music, and ritual bring comfort and inspire strength. Among these, individual and collective prayers of petition and intercession are perhaps the most widely used religious practice. Sacred Scripture believed to be the Word of God might also be an additional source for comfort, hope, peace, and strength. Although there are many religious services that are designed for specific occasions in the life cycle, including healing, there are no published worship services specifically designed and studied for their effectiveness in helping not only those who have cancer, but also their family members and their friends (who are often called upon to provide extensive service and support to patients, but who perceive low levels of support for themselves). We set out to design an interfaith service that had broad appeal and created an uplifting and communal experience. We also wanted to determine that a secular hospital and cancer program could reach out to the community and collaborate with area churches to help meet the spiritual needs of those touched by cancer while avoiding interinstitutional conflicts. Finally, we wished to measure the level of satisfaction with the service and its components, discover what portions of the service found favor with attendees, and determine whether different attendees had different responses to and preferences regarding the service.