Spiritual Well-Being and Practices Among Women With Gynecologic Cancer

Purpose/Objectives: To identify spiritual well-being and spiritual practices in women with gynecologic cancer. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional. Setting: Urban and rural communities in southeast Florida. Sample: Convenience sample of 85 women ((X) over bar age = 65.72 years) with some form of gynecologic cancer. Methods: Participants completed questionnaires to assess spiritual well-being and spiritual practices while attending a healthcare clinic. Main Research Variables: Spiritual well-being, spiritual practices. Findings: The level of overall spiritual well-being was high, as were the levels of self-efficacy and life scheme (meaningfulness), as measured with two subscales. Most women reported use of several spiritual practices, including family activities, exercise, and listening to music. Conclusions: Additional study of the spiritual well-being and practices of women with cancer and comparisons with other groups of women are needed. Implications for Nursing: Nurses can assume a role in encouraging spiritual practices and enhancing spiritual wellbeing in women with cancer.