PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - ARNDT BÜSSING
AU  - THOMAS OSTERMANN
AU  - PETER F. MATTHIESSEN
TI  - Search for Meaningful Support and the Meaning of Illness in German Cancer Patients
DP  - 2005 Mar 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 1449--1455
VI  - 25
IP  - 2B
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/2B/1449.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/2B/1449.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2005 Mar 01; 25
AB  - Background: Spiritual needs are an essential component of holistic health care. Several studies have shown that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcome, coping skills and health-related quality of life. Patients and Methods: Using the newly developed SpREUK inventory, we examined how German cancer patients (n=115) by themselves view the impact of spirituality and religiosity (SpR) on their health and how they cope with illness. Results: Cancer patients with both a religious and spiritual attitude had significantly higher values in the search for meaningful support and in addressing the stabilizing effects of SpR than patients without such attitudes. Patients with non-spiritual religious attitudes had a lower perception of the beneficial effects of their SpR and significantly lower needs for meaningful support. Female cancer patients were convinced that finding access to a spiritual source has a positive influence on their illness, that illness has meaning, regard illness as a chance for their own development and as a hint to change life. Conclusion: Knowledge of a patient's spirituality can help service providers predict aspects of psychosocial needs and to respond sensitively and appropriately. The SpREUK questionnaire is a useful tool to define patients who are more in need of spiritual support than others. Copyright© 2005 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved