Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T09:47:43.507Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Recognizing spiritual injury in cancer: A case study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2021

Jessica I. Goldberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Laurie J. Andersen
Affiliation:
Department of Chaplaincy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Jill Bowden
Affiliation:
Department of Chaplaincy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Judith E. Nelson
Affiliation:
Department of and Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
*
Author for correspondence: Jessica I. Goldberg, 1275 York Avenue, Box 496, New York, NY 10065, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Background

Spiritual distress is a common symptom among patients with cancer. Spiritual injury (SI), a type of spiritual distress, occurs when there is a breakdown in the relationship between the individual and their higher power. Patients who experience spiritual injury may have poor health outcomes.

Methods

A case report of a woman with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer who had experienced a SI.

Results

The palliative care team, in collaboration with the palliative care chaplain, was able to recognize that the patient had experienced a SI. They were able to help the patient to process and reflect upon this experience and ultimately treat her suffering.

Significance of results

All palliative care providers should assess their patients’ spiritual health and monitor for the existence of SI.

Type
Case Report
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Astrow, AB, Kwok, G, Sharma, RK, et al. (2018) Spiritual needs and perception of quality of care and satisfaction with care in hematology/medical oncology patients: A multicultural assessment. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 55(1), 5664.e51.10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.08.009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Battles, AR, Kelley, ML, Jinkerson, JD, et al. (2019) Associations among exposure to potentially morally injurious experiences, spiritual injury, and alcohol use among combat veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress 32(3), 405413.10.1002/jts.22404CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berg, G (2011) The relationship between spiritual distress, PTSD and depression in Vietnam combat veterans. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling 65(1–2), 111.10.1177/154230501106500106CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Borneman, T, Ferrell, B and Puchalski, CM (2010) Evaluation of the FICA tool for spiritual assessment. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 40(2), 163173.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cadge, W, Freese, J and Christakis, NA (2008) The provision of hospital chaplaincy in the United States: A national overview. Southern Medical Journal 101(6), 626630.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carey, LB and Hodgson, TJ (2018) Chaplaincy, spiritual care and moral injury: Considerations regarding screening and treatment. Frontiers in Psychiatry 9, 619.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chang, BH, Stein, NR and Skarf, LM (2015) Spiritual distress of military veterans at the end of life. Palliative and Supportive Care 13(3), 635639.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davies, MJ (2020) Spiritual injuries: An Australian defense force experience. Journal of Veterans Studies 6(1), 158170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dein, S and Cook, CCH (2015) God put a thought into my mind: The charismatic christian experience of receiving communications from God. Mental Health, Religion & Culture 18(2), 97113.10.1080/13674676.2014.1002761CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferrell, BR, Twaddle, ML, Melnick, A, et al. (2018) National Consensus Project Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care Guidelines, 4th edition. Journal of Palliative Medicine 21(12), 16841689.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jeuland, J, Fitchett, G, Schulman-Green, D, et al. (2017) Chaplains working in palliative care: Who they are and what they do. Journal of Palliative Medicine 20(5), 502508.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jim, HS, Pustejovsky, JE, Park, CL, et al. (2015) Religion, spirituality, and physical health in cancer patients: A meta-analysis. Cancer 121(21), 37603768.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Palmer Kelly, E, Hyer, M, Tsilimigras, D, et al. (2021) Healthcare provider self-reported observations and behaviors regarding their role in the spiritual care of cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer 29(8), 44054412.10.1007/s00520-020-05957-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Puchalski, CM, Vitillo, R, Hull, SK, et al. (2014) Improving the spiritual dimension of whole person care: Reaching national and international consensus. Journal of Palliative Medicine 17(6), 642656.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Riba, MB, Donovan, KA, Andersen, B, et al. (2019) Distress management, version 3.2019, NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 17(10), 12291249.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schreiber, JA and Brockopp, DY (2012) Twenty-five years later—what do we know about religion/spirituality and psychological well-being among breast cancer survivors? A systematic review. Journal of Cancer Survivorship 6(1), 8294.10.1007/s11764-011-0193-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schultz, M, Meged-Book, T, Mashiach, T, et al. (2017) Distinguishing between spiritual distress, general distress, spiritual well-being, and spiritual pain among cancer patients during oncology treatment. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 54(1), 6673.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, T, Molassiotis, A, Chung, BPM, et al. (2018) Unmet care needs of advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers: A systematic review. BMC Palliative Care 17(1), 96.10.1186/s12904-018-0346-9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed