Distress and Spiritual Well-Being in Brazilian Patients Initiating Chemotherapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cross-Sectional Study

Angelo Braga Mendonça, Eliane Ramos Pereira, Carinne Magnago, Pedro Gilson da Silva, Diva Cristina Morett Leão, Rose Mary Costa Rosa Andrade Silva and Karina Cardoso Meira
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Angelo Braga Mendonça: Nursing School, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24020-091, Brazil
Eliane Ramos Pereira: Nursing School, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24020-091, Brazil
Carinne Magnago: School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
Pedro Gilson da Silva: School of Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59075-000, Brazil
Diva Cristina Morett Leão: Nursing School, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24020-091, Brazil
Rose Mary Costa Rosa Andrade Silva: Nursing School, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24020-091, Brazil
Karina Cardoso Meira: School of Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59075-000, Brazil

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-27

Abstract: Social distancing and the priority given to COVID-19 patients in health services, which caused postponement of appointments and cancer treatment, may have triggered unprecedented levels of distress in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of distress and the levels of spiritual well-being of people initiating chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying the factors associated with distress, and determining if there is a relationship between distress and spiritual well-being. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 91 Brazilians. Data were collected by applying the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) and the Distress Thermometer and Problem List for Patients. The prevalence of distress was 59.5%, and the average score of spiritual well-being was 106.54 (±9.06). Emotional issues were the most reported by patients with distress. The Poisson regression showed that male sex (PR = 0.588; 95% CI 0.392–0.881), age (PR = 0.985; 95% CI 0.973–0.996), and spiritual well-being score were predictors of distress (PR = 0.971; 95% CI 0.946–0.996). These findings indicate that distress relief involves implementation of public health programs capable of integrating spiritual interventions into cancer care.

Keywords: cancer; chemotherapy; psychological distress; spirituality; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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