Research Article

SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIOSITY IN ONCOLOGY: A SOCIAL STUDY OF PATIENTS’ NEEDS

Chidiebere Agbakwuru1*, Jimoh mutiu alani2, Noah Olumide3, Anthonia Sowunmi4, Wilfred Nwachukwu5
1 Medserve- LUTH Cancer Centre, Lagos state
2 Radiation Oncology Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
3 Medicine and Surgery Department, University of Lagos, Lagos state
4 Lagos University Teaching Hospital, 102215, Lagos, Nigeria
5 Archdiocese of Owerri, Imo state
* Corresponding author: cagbakwuru@nlcc.ng
Published: Feb, 2026
DOI: 10.67579/njo.2026.b36ky0jz
Pages: 113-123
Views: 332
Downloads: 176

Abstract

Background: Cancer diagnosis and treatment impose significant psychological and existential burdens, particularly in high-religiosity settings like Nigeria, where spirituality and religion often serve as key coping resources. This study examined spiritual well-being (SWB) and its associations with perceived relational and existential outcomes among oncology patients using a validated tool in a Nigerian tertiary cancer centre.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Medserve-Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Cancer Centre (MLCC) from January to April 2023. A convenience sample of 304 adult patients with histologically/radiologically confirmed cancer, receiving active treatment, and able to consent, completed the interviewer-administered EORTC QLQ-SWB32 questionnaire. The tool assesses SWB across subscales: Relationships with Others (RO), Relationships with Self (RS), Relationships with Someone or Something Greater (RSG), Existential Issues (EX), Relationship with God (RG), and a global SWB item. Descriptive statistics summarised subscale scores (transformed 0-100 scale, higher = better functioning). Independent samples t-tests compared subscale means between believers and non-believers (significance at p < 0.05). Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 27.

Results: Participants were predominantly believers (98.8% reported belief in God or something greater). Mean subscale scores were highest for RG (90.87 ± 17.86) and RSG (85.51 ± 13.77), and lowest for RS (61.03 ± 18.79). Global SWB averaged 79.79 ± 19.55, with 78.1% rating it as good or very good. Believers scored significantly higher than non-believers on RSG (85.8 vs. 57.0, p=0.001), RG (90.9 vs. 68.8, p=0.002), and global SWB (80.3 vs. 39.3, p<0.001). No significant differences emerged for RO, RS, or EX subscales.

Conclusion: In this Nigerian oncology sample with near-universal religiosity, spiritual well-being was generally high, particularly in relational and transcendent domains. Believers reported superior global SWB and connections to something greater, suggesting spirituality supports existential coping and perceived quality of life markers. These findings underscore the need for routine spiritual needs assessment and integration of spiritual care in holistic oncology services in high-religiosity African contexts. Further longitudinal and multivariable studies are warranted to clarify causal pathways.

Keywords

Spirituality Religiosity Spiritual well-being Oncology Cancer patients EORTC QLQ-SWB32 Nigeria Quality of life

References

  1. Kapoor N, Garg R, Tewfik I. Palliative nutritional care for cancer patients. Palliat Med Hosp Care Open J. 2016;2(1):e1-e6.
  2. Esan DT, Bolarinwa FI, Afolayan JA, Oyama BO, Bolarinwa OA. Assessment of Spiritual Care Needs and Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Southwest Nigeria. Research Square. 2023. Available from: https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-3127404/latest
  3. Heuschkel G, Fischer von Weikersthal L, Junghans C, et al. Spirituality in Oncology: Relations between Spirituality, Its Facets, and Psychological and Demographic Factors in Cancer Patients in Germany. Oncol Res Treat. 2024;47(4):123-134. doi:10.1159/000535919
  4. Mamier I, Kim SM, Petersen D, Bae H, Taylor EJ, Kang K. Spiritual needs among Koreans and Americans with advanced chronic illnesses: A cultural comparison. J Clin Nurs. 2021;30(23-24):3517-3527. doi:10.1111/jocn.15854
  5. Merath K, Palmer Kelly E, Hyer JM, et al. Patient Perceptions About the Role of Religion and Spirituality During Cancer Care. J Relig Health. 2020;59(4):1933-1945. doi:10.1007/s10943-019-00907-6
  6. Moosavi S, Borhani F, Akbari ME, Sanee N, Rohani C. Recommendations for spiritual care in cancer patients: A clinical practice guideline for oncology nurses in Iran. Support Care Cancer. 2020;28(11):5381-5395. doi:10.1007/s00520-020-05390-4
  7. Puchalski CM, Vitillo R, Hull SK, Reller N. Improving the Spiritual Dimension of Whole Person Care: Reaching National and International Consensus. J Palliat Med. 2014;17(6):642-656. doi:10.1089/jpm.2014.9427
  8. De Klerk JJ. Spirituality, meaning in life, and work wellness: a research agenda. Int J Organ Anal. 2005;13(1):64-68. doi:10.1108/eb028998
  9. Paloutzian RF, Park CL. Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality. New York: Guilford Publications; 2014.
  10. Arrey AE, Bilsen J, Lacor P, Deschepper R. Spirituality/religiosity: a cultural and psychological resource among Sub-Saharan African migrant women with HIV/AIDS in Belgium. PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159488. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159488
  11. Hill PC, Pargament KI, Hood RW Jr, et al. Conceptualizing Religion and Spirituality: Points of Commonality, Points of Departure. J Theory Soc Behav. 2000;30(1):51-77. doi:10.1111/1468-5914.00119
  12. Kelly EP, Paredes AZ, Tsilimigras DI, Hyer JM, Pawlik TM. The role of religion and spirituality in cancer care: An umbrella review of the literature. Surg Oncol. 2022;42:101389. doi:10.1016/j.suronc.2020.101389
  13. Shi X, Wang F, Xue L, et al. Current status and influencing factors of spiritual needs of patients with advanced cancer: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nurs. 2023;22(1):131. doi:10.1186/s12912-023-01306-9
  14. Balboni TA, Balboni M, Enzinger AC, et al. Provision of spiritual support to patients with advanced cancer by religious communities and associations with medical care at the end of life. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(12):1109-1117. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1234
  15. Anshasi HA, Fawaz M, Aljawarneh YM, Alkhawaldeh JM. Exploring nurses' experiences of providing spiritual care to cancer patients: A qualitative study. BMC Nurs. 2024;23(1):207. doi:10.1186/s12912-024-01830-2
  16. Vivat B, Young T, Winstanley J, et al. The international phase 4 validation study of the EORTC QLQ-SWB32: A stand-alone measure of spiritual well-being for people receiving palliative care for cancer. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2017;26(6):e12697. doi:10.1111/ecc.12697
How to Cite

Agbakwuru, C., alani, J. M., Olumide, N., Sowunmi, A., & Nwachukwu, W. (2026). SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIOSITY IN ONCOLOGY: A SOCIAL STUDY OF PATIENTS’ NEEDS. Nigerian Journal of Oncology, 2(1), 113-123. https://doi.org/10.67579/njo.2026.b36ky0jz

C. Agbakwuru, J. M. alani, N. Olumide, A. Sowunmi, and W. Nwachukwu, "SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIOSITY IN ONCOLOGY: A SOCIAL STUDY OF PATIENTS’ NEEDS," Nigerian Journal of Oncology, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 113-123, February 2026. doi: 10.67579/njo.2026.b36ky0jz

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF View Full Text (PDF) Back to Articles