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 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 well-being in women with cancer.