Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T09:05:14.892Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Religious–spiritual experiences of family members and caregivers of children and adolescents with cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2021

Lucas Rossato Open the ORCID record for Lucas Rossato [Opens in a new window] ,
Julia Corrêa Benfato ,
Ana M. Ullán  and
Fabio Scorsolini-Comin
Lucas Rossato*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Human Sciences, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Julia Corrêa Benfato
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Human Sciences, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Ana M. Ullán
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychology and Anthropology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
Fabio Scorsolini-Comin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Human Sciences, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Lucas Rossato, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This integrative literature review aimed to identify the religious and spiritual experiences of family members and caregivers of children and adolescents with cancer. Through systematized searches in the databases/libraries CINAHL, PsycINFO, Pubmed, SciELO, and Lilacs, 69 articles produced between 2010 and 2020 were retrieved. There was a predominance of studies with parents developed in hospital facilities. The caregivers’ religious and spiritual experiences helped them to cope with childhood cancer, especially in maintaining hope, reducing stress and anxiety symptoms, as well as in providing psychological and social support. Negative outcomes such as questioning faith, the feeling of punishment, and disruption with the religious and spiritual group were also perceived. It is recommended to include religiosity and spirituality for the provision of more humanized and comprehensive care, as well as further investigation of the negative experiences regarding religiosity and spirituality in this public.

Keywords

CancerChildrenFamilyReligiositySpirituality
Type
Review Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 20 , Issue 5 , October 2022 , pp. 711 - 719
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

Abdoljabbari, M, Sheikhzakaryaee, N and Atashzadeh-Shoorideh, F (2018) Taking refuge in spirituality, a main strategy of parents of children with cancer: A qualitative study. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 19(9), 2575. doi:10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.9.2575Google ScholarPubMed
Ahmadi, F, Khodayarifard, M, Zandi, S, et al. (2018) Religion, culture and illness: A sociological study on religious coping in Iran. Mental Health, Religion & Culture 21(7), 721–736. doi:10.1080/13674676.2018.1555699CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ahmadi, M, Zaree, K, Leily, AK, et al. (2019) Efficacy of a written prayer technique on the anxiety of mothers of children with cancer. Palliative & Supportive Care 17(1), 54–59. doi:10.1017/S1478951518000743CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Almico, T and Faro, A (2014) Enfrentamento de cuidadores de crianças com câncer em processo de quimioterapia. Psicologia, Saúde e Doenças 15(3). doi:10.15309/14psd150313Google Scholar
Andrade, SFDO, Alves, RF, Melo, MDO, et al. (2014) Qualidade de vida e sobrecarga de cuidadores de crianças com câncer. Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão 34(4), 1014–1031. doi:10.1590/1982-370002332013Google Scholar
Arabiat, DH, Al Jabery, M, Abdelkader, RH, et al. (2013) Jordanian mothers’ beliefs about the causes of cancer in their children and their impact on the maternal role. Journal of Transcultural Nursing 24(3), 246–253. doi:10.1177%2F1043659613481808CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bakula, DM, Sharkey, CM, Perez, MN, et al. (2020) The relationship between parent distress and child quality of life in pediatric cancer: A meta-analysis. Journal of Pediatric Nursing 50, 14–19. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2019.09.024CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Banerjee, AT, Watt, L, Gulati, S, et al. (2011) Cultural beliefs and coping strategies related to childhood cancer: The perceptions of South Asian immigrant parents in Canada. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing 28(3), 169–178. doi:10.1177%2F1043454211408106CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bertuccio, P, Alicandro, G, Malvezzi, M, et al. (2020) Childhood cancer mortality trends in Europe, 1990-2017, with focus on geographic differences. Cancer Epidemiology 67, 101768. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2020.101768CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cadge, W, Fitchett, G, Haythorn, T, et al. (2019) Training healthcare chaplains: Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling 73(4), 211–221. doi:10.1177%2F1542305019875819CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cadge, W, Stroud, IE, Palmer, PK, et al. (2020) Training chaplains and spiritual caregivers: The emergence and growth of chaplaincy programs in theological education. Pastoral Psychology 69(3), 187–208. doi:10.1007/s11089-020-00906-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carey, LB, Swinton, J and Grossoehme, D (2018) Chaplaincy and spiritual care. In Carey, LB & Mathisen, BA (eds.), Spiritual Care for Allied Health Practice: A Person-Centered Approach. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, pp. 229–256. https://aus.jkp.com/products/spiritual-care-forallied-health-practice.Google Scholar
Chen, CF, Huang, FL, Chen, YC, et al. (2020) Maternal caregiving for children newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Traditional Chinese mothering as the double-edged sword. Journal of Pediatric Nursing 53, e64–e71. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2020.02.008CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cunha, VF, Pillon, SC, Zafar, S, et al. (2020) Brazilian nurses’ concept of religion, religiosity, and spirituality: A qualitative descriptive study. Nursing & Health Sciences 22(4), 1161–1168. doi:10.1111/nhs.12788CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cutillo, A, Zimmerman, K, Davies, S, et al. (2018) Coping strategies used by caregivers of children with newly diagnosed brain tumors. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 23(1), 30–39. doi:10.3171/2018.7.PEDS18296Google ScholarPubMed
Dolan, JG, Hill, DL, Faerber, JA, et al. (2021) Association of psychological distress and religious coping tendencies in parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer: A cross-sectional study. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, e28991. doi:10.1002/pbc.28991Google ScholarPubMed
Faria, AMDB and Cardoso, CL (2010) Aspectos psicossociais de acompanhantes cuidadores de crianças com câncer: Stress e enfrentamento. Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas) 27(1), 13–20. doi:10.1590/S0103-166X2010000100002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fitchett, G, Tartaglia, A, Massey, K, et al. (2015) Education for professional chaplains: Should certification competencies shape curriculum? Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy 21(4), 151–164. doi:10.1080/08854726.2015.1075343CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Freitas, IS, Cardoso, EAO and Santos, MA (2017) Espiritualidade e religiosidade em mães de crianças com câncer hematológico. Psicologia em Estudo 22(3), 433–447. doi:10.4025/psicolestud.v22i3.34606CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gatta, G, Botta L, Rossi S, et al. (2014) Childhood cancer survival in Europe 1999-2007: Results of EUROCARE-5 - A population-based study. The Lancet Oncology 15(1), 35–47. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70548-5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Khanjari, S, Damghanifar, M and Haqqani, H (2018) Investigating the relationship between the quality of life and religious coping in mothers of children with recurrence leukemia. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 7(1), 213. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_236_17Google ScholarPubMed
Kudubes, AA, Bektas, M and Ugur, O (2014) Symptom frequency of children with cancer and parent quality of life in Turkey. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 15(8), 3487–3493. doi:10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.8.3487CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lion, AH, Skiles, JL, Watson, BN, et al. (2019) Chaplain care in pediatric oncology: Insight for interprofessional collaboration. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 66(12), e27971. doi:10.1002/pbc.27971CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Loewenthal, KM (2019) Intersections among religion, culture, gender, and mental health. In Mena, JA & Quina, K (eds.), Integrating Multiculturalism and Intersectionality into the Psychology Curriculum: Strategies for Instructors. American Psychological Association, pp. 143–156. doi:10.1037/0000137-012Google Scholar
Long, K and Marsland, A (2011) Family adjustment to childhood cancer: A systematic review. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review 14(1), 57–88. doi:10.1007/s10567-010-0082-zCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McGrady, ME, Mara, CA, Geiger-Behm, K, et al. (2021) Psychometric evaluation of the brief RCOPE and relationships with psychological functioning among caregivers of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Psycho-Oncology. doi:10.1002/pon.5705CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moghaddasi, J, Taleghani, F, Moafi, A, et al. (2018) Family interactions in childhood leukemia: An exploratory descriptive study. Supportive Care in Cancer 26(12), 4161–4168. doi:10.1007/s00520-018-4289-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moher, D, Liberati, A, Tetzlaff, J, et al. (2010) Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. International Journal of Surgery 8(5), 336–341. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2010.02.007CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nafratilova, M, Allenidekania, A and Wanda, D (2018) Still hoping for a miracle: Parents’ experiences in caring for their child with cancer under palliative care. Indian Journal of Palliative Care 24(2), 127. doi:10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_195_17Google ScholarPubMed
Nash, P, Bartel, M and Nash, S (2018) Paediatric Chaplaincy: Principles, Practices and Skills. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Nicholas, DB, Barrera, M, Granek, L, et al. (2017) Parental spirituality in life-threatening pediatric cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology 35(3), 323–334. doi:10.1080/07347332.2017.1292573CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nikfarid, L, Rassouli, M, Borimnejad, L, et al. (2017) Experience of chronic sorrow in mothers of children with cancer: A phenomenological study. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 28, 98–106. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2017.02.003CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ouzzani, M, Hammady, H, Fedorowicz, Z, et al. (2016) Rayyan – A web and mobile app for systematic reviews. Systematic Reviews 5(1), 1–10. doi:10.1186/s13643-016-0384-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paula, DPS, Silva, GRC, Andrade, JMO, et al. (2019) Câncer infantojuvenil do âmbito familiar: Percepções e experiências frente ao diagnóstico. Revista Cuidarte 10(1). doi:10.15649/cuidarte. v10i1.570.Google Scholar
Proserpio, T, Ferrari, A, Veneroni, L, et al. (2014) Spiritual aspects of care for adolescents with cancer. Tumori Journal 100(4), 130–135. doi:10.1700%2F1636.17926CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Proserpio, T, Veneroni, L, Silva, M, et al. (2016) Spiritual support for adolescent cancer patients: A survey of pediatric oncology centers in Italy and Spain. Tumori Journal 102(4), 376–380. doi:10.5301/tj.5000494CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Proserpio, T, Ferrari, A, Clerici, CA, et al. (2019) Spiritual support: A model of care not to forget. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 66(10), e27818. doi:10.1002/pbc.27818CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rabelais, E, Jones, NL, Ulrich, CM, et al. (2019) Meaning making and religious engagement among survivors of childhood brain tumors and their caregivers. Oncology Nursing Forum 46(2), 170–184. doi:10.1188/19.ONF.170-184Google ScholarPubMed
Reisi-Dehkordi, N, Baratian, H and Zargham-Boroujeni, A (2014) Challenges of children with cancer and their mothers: A qualitative research. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research 19(4), 334.Google ScholarPubMed
Rossato, L, Ullán, AM and Scorsolini-Comin, F (2021) Religious and spiritual practices used by children and adolescents to cope with cancer. Journal of Religion and Health. doi:10.1007/s10943-021-01256-zGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sánchez, MC (2020) Experiencias de padres de hijos con diagnóstico de cáncer en un hospital infantil de villahermosa tabasco. Horizonte Sanitario 19(1), 79–87. doi:10.19136/hs.a19n1.3496Google Scholar
Santos, AF, Guedes, MDS, Tavares, RC, et al. (2018) Vivências de mães com crianças internadas com diagnóstico de câncer. Enfermería Actual de Costa Rica 34, 38–52. doi:10.15517/revenf.v0i34.30763Google Scholar
Schaefer, MR, Kenney, AE, Himelhoch, AC, et al. (2020) A quest for meaning: A qualitative exploration among children with advanced cancer and their parents. Psycho-Oncology. doi:10.1002/pon.5601Google ScholarPubMed
Schoors, MV, Paepe, AL, Norga, K, et al. (2019) Family members dealing with childhood cancer: A study on the role of family functioning and cancer appraisal. Frontiers in Psychology 10, 1405. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01405CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schüz, J and Roman, E (2021) Childhood cancer: A global perspective. Cancer Epidemiology 71, 101878. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2020.101878CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Steliarova-Foucher, E, Colombet, M, Ries, L, et al. (2017) International incidence of childhood cancer, 2001-10: A population-based registry study. The Lancet Oncology 18(6), 719–731. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30186-9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tan, R, Koh, S, Wong, ME, et al. (2020) Caregiver stress, coping strategies, and support needs of mothers caring for their children who are undergoing active cancer treatments. Clinical Nursing Research 29(7), 460–468. doi:10.1177%2F1054773819888099CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Toledano-Toledano, F, De La Rubia, JM, Broche-Pérez, Y, et al. (2019) The measurement scale of resilience among family caregivers of children with cancer: A psychometric evaluation. BMC Public Health 19(1), 1–14. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-7512-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vieira, RFC, Santo, FHE and Lima, FFDSL (2020) Vivência familiar da criança hospitalizada com câncer. Revista de Enfermagem do Centro-Oeste Mineiro 10. doi:10.19175/recom.v0i0.3546Google Scholar
Vitorino, LM, Lopes-Júnior, LC, Oliveira, GH, et al. (2018) Spiritual and religious coping and depression among family caregivers of pediatric cancer patients in Latin America. Psycho-Oncology 27(8), 1900–1907. doi:10.1002/pon.4739CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Walubita, M, Sikateyo, B and Zulu, JM (2018) Challenges for health care providers, parents and patients who face a child hood cancer diagnosis in Zambia. BMC Health Services Research 18(1), 1–7. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3127-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, J, Shen, N, Zhang, X, et al. (2017) Care burden and its predictive factors in parents of newly diagnosed children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in academic hospitals in China. Supportive Care in Cancer 25(12), 3703–3713. doi:10.1007/s00520-017-3796-3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization (WHO) (1998) Division of Mental Health and Prevention of Substance Abuse. WHOQOL and Spirituality, Religiousness and Personal Beliefs (SRPB). Genève: World Health Organization.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (WHO) (2020) Cancer Today. Estimated Number of New Cases in 2020, Worldwide, Both Sexes, Age 0-19. International Agency for Research on Cancer. The Global Cancer Observatory. Genève: World Health Organization. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/online-analysis-pie?v=2020&mode=cancer&mode_population=continents&population=900&populations=900&key=total&sex=0&cancer=39&type=0&statistic=5&prevalence=0&population_group=0&ages_group%5B%5D=0&ages_group%5B%5D=3&nb_items=7&group_cancer=1&include_nmsc=1&include_nmsc_other=1&half_pie=0&donut=0Google Scholar
World Health Organization (WHO) (2021) Childhood Cancer. Genève: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer-in-childrenGoogle Scholar