Quality of life, religious attitude and cancer coping in a sample of Iranian patients with cancer

BACKGROUND Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The incidence of cancer has increased markedly in recent decades in most countries. Studies have shown that diseases such as cancer affect the individuals' quality of life. METHODS The sample of study consisted of 384 patients selected through non-random convenient sampling procedure from three general hospitals and outpatient clinics in Isfahan and Tehran. The measures used in the study included a demographic questionnaire, the Iranian version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Cancer Coping Questionnaire, and the Religious Attitude Questionnaire. RESULTS The results revealed significant correlation between patients' scores on the total scale of the Cancer Coping Questionnaire and their scores on the Global health status/Quality of Life. Significant correlations were also found between patients' scores on the Religious Attitude Questionnaire and various scales of the Quality of Life Questionnaire. However, no significant correlations were found between Cancer Coping and Religious Attitude measures in any type of cancer except for the prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS Religious attitude was a significant and important factor in coping with cancer. In addition, patients' quality of life correlated significantly with religious attitude as well as cancer coping measures. However, the results did not show any significant relationship between religious attitude and cancer coping measures except in patients with prostate cancer. The findings of this study are consistent with other studies that have shown significant correlations between religiosity and spirituality and quality of life in patients with life threatening diseases.