Prayer in people with cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychosocial Oncology
• Spiritual Care

Background:

• Spirituality and prayer are recognized as important factors in coping with cancer.
• Existing instruments may not adequately capture the nuances of prayer experiences in cancer patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt an existing instrument to specifically assess prayer activities, experiences, and attitudes in individuals with cancer.
• To establish the content validity and internal consistency reliability of the adapted prayer scale.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with 32 adult cancer patients from urban oncology and radiation clinics.
• The prayer scale was adapted by the author, reviewed by measurement and content experts, and pilot-tested.
• Reliability and validity were assessed using expert review and statistical analysis of patient data.

Main Results:

• Expert review supported the content validity of the adapted prayer scale.
• Subscales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability.
• Prayer frequency correlated with lower education, functional status, and higher metastasis at diagnosis.
• Increased prayer activity was linked to lower functional status and more prayer experiences in those with lower physical health status.

Conclusions:

• The adapted prayer scale is a sensitive instrument for assessing prayer in cancer patients.
• Prayer serves as a valuable internal resource that may mitigate the impact of cancer.
• Findings highlight the complex relationship between prayer, sociodemographic factors, and cancer characteristics.