Saffari M¹ ( PhD ), Zeidi IM² (PhD), Pakpour AH² * ^{( PhD )}

  ¹ Department of Health Education, Faculty of Health, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  ² Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

  Received: 21 Feb 2012, Accepted: 3 Sep 2012

  Abstract

  Introduction: The role of religious beliefs in treatment and coping with diseases, especially life-threatening diseases such as cancer, is an important issue. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between religious beliefs with the quality of life in patients with cancer. 

  Methods: This descriptive analytical study was conducted on 189 patients with different types of cancer hospitalized in the Kosar hospital, Qazvin. Data were collected using the quality of life questionnaire (derived from the European organization for research and treatment of cancer), Karnofsky performance status, and the Duke University's religion index. The data were analyzed using the descriptive statistical tests and multiple regressions in the SPSS-20.

  Results: One hundred and seven patients were male. Most of the patients suffered from gastrointestinal cancers (stomach cancer: 36.5% and esophagus cancer: 28.5%). The mean score for the patients' performance was 89.87±15.61. The mean score for the total quality of life among the patients was 5180±28.30 (males: 53.17±28.92 females: 50.93±28.26). The highest score in the performance domain belonged to the patients' physical performance and the lowest score belonged to the total quality of life. In the signs and syndromes domain, the severe problem was for the economic impacts. The mean score for the religion index was 21.08±4.69 (males: 20.81±4.77 females: 21.38±3.76). The multiple regression analysis revealed that the in presence of demographic characteristics and patients' performance score, religious beliefs significantly predicted quality of life. The regression model explained about 58% of variance in quality of life.

  Conclusion: T he results indicated that the religious beliefs could be related to the quality of life among patients with cancer. Reinforcing religious beliefs among patients with cancer may improve their quality of life.

  Key words: religion, quality of life, cancer