Spirituality and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer

Objectives: In patients with advanced-stage cancer, quality-of-life alterations are an important outcome to evaluate. It has been proposed that health interventions aimed at improving quality of life should be more effective, and spirituality may be related to it. This article aimed to determine factors related to spirituality and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out in patients with advanced cancer, applying the FACIT-Sp (Quality of Life Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being) scale. A multiple linear regression was developed with the score of the spirituality domains of the FACIT-Sp scale as the dependent variable, and the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the quality-of-life components of the FACT-G (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) scale as explanatory variables.Results: Among the 476 patients selected in the outpatient and chemotherapy services of the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (INC), a median age of 61 years (IQR=15.5) was found, and the majority (65%) were from Bogota. Separately, greater spirituality was associated with higher quality of life in patients (FACT-G scale), with a correlation of 0.58 (p<0.001). When reviewed together, greater spirituality was found in the female gender, in non-single patients, and in patients with a higher score on the FACT-G scale and in the domain of physical well-being.Conclusions: Spirituality in patients with advanced cancer is positively correlated with female gender, having a partner, quality of life, and physical well-being.