Benefits of Spiritual and Religious Support in the Pain Management of Cancer Patients: A Literature Scoping Review.

Pain is one of the main symptoms of cancer and the most difficult to control due to its complexity as it can involve physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. We proposed to summarize the scientific knowledge already published related to the influence of spirituality on pain therapy in cancer patients. Articles were searched in PubMed, SciELO, SciFinder, PsycInfo, and ScienceDirect databases using the following descriptors: "Spirituality," "Religion," "Religion," "Chronic Pain," "Pain Management" and "Cancer." A total of 68 articles were included and discussed. Most articles dealt with the influence of spirituality in palliative care, focussed on patient quality, and highlighted the importance of integrative oncology. Although few studies associated spirituality with chronic pain, most articles reported that spirituality could confer greater pain control.

Quality of life in women with breast cancer treated at a radiotherapy centre in Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy treatment. Methods: The current study is a descriptive quantitative approach that seeks to identify the QOL of breast cancer patients during their radiotherapy treatment. A convenience sample of 30 women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer completed the EORTC QLQC30 questionnaire on Day 1 and Day 28. Results: Results showed significant differences in QOL between the two sessions. Decreases in overall health (88.33 to 61.67) and functional health (76.45 to 67.77) were noted in parallel to an increase in the scale of symptoms (13.85 for 24.62). Conclusions: The radiotherapeutic treatment impacts the QOL of patients with breast cancer. It is crucial for the nursing team to work together with a multi-professional team to adequately manage the treatment of these patients adequately.

Association between family dynamics and use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze, in the light of systemic thinking, the association between family dynamics and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by adolescents throughout life. METHODS: a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in nine public schools in the city of Recife. Three hundred and sixty-four adolescents aged 14 to 19 years participated. We used three questionnaires: The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test, a reduced version of the Drug Use Screening Inventory; and a sociodemographic questionnaire. RESULTS: there was an association between parents/guardians ignoring what the child considers meaningful to him and the consumption of alcohol and tobacco by adolescents; we also verified an association between the occurrence of conflicting relationships and the consumption of illicit drugs by adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: it confirmed that disorganization in the family system, marked by impairments in emotional connections among members, and fragility in the sense of belonging are associated with the consumption of drugs in life by adolescents.

Association between family dynamics and use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by adolescents / Asociación entre la dinámica familiar y consumo de alcohol, tabaco y otras drogas por adolescentes / Associação entre a dinâmica familiar e consumo de álcool, tabaco e outras drogas por adolescentes

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze, in the light of systemic thinking, the association between family dynamics and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by adolescents throughout life. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in nine public schools in the city of Recife. Three hundred and sixty-four adolescents aged 14 to 19 years participated. We used three questionnaires: The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test, a reduced version of the Drug Use Screening Inventory; and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: there was an association between parents/guardians ignoring what the child considers meaningful to him and the consumption of alcohol and tobacco by adolescents; we also verified an association between the occurrence of conflicting relationships and the consumption of illicit drugs by adolescents. Conclusions: it confirmed that disorganization in the family system, marked by impairments in emotional connections among members, and fragility in the sense of belonging are associated with the consumption of drugs in life by adolescents.

RESUMEN Objetivos: analizar, a la luz del pensamiento sistémico, la asociación entre la dinámica familiar y el consumo de alcohol, tabaco y otras drogas en la vida por adolescentes. Métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en nueve escuelas públicas de Recife. Participaron 364 adolescentes con edad entre 14 a 19 años. Fueron utilizados tres encuestas: el Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test, una versión reducida del Drug Use Screening Inventory; y una encuesta sociodemográfica. Resultados: hubo asociación entre padres/responsables desconocieron lo que su hijo considera importante y el consumo de alcohol y tabaco por adolescentes; también se verificó asociación entre ocurrencia de relaciones conflictivas y el consumo de drogas ilícitas por adolescentes. Conclusiones: fue evidenciado que la desorganización en el sistema familiar, marcada por perjuicios en las conexiones emotivas entre los miembros, y la fragilidad en el sentimiento de pertenecer están relacionadas al consumo de drogas en vida por los adolescentes.

RESUMO Objetivos: analisar, à luz do pensamento sistêmico, a associação entre a dinâmica familiar e o consumo de álcool, tabaco e outras drogas na vida por adolescentes. Métodos: estudo descritivo transversal realizado em nove escolas públicas do Recife. Participaram 364 adolescentes com idade entre 14 a 19 anos. Foram utilizados três questionários: o Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test, uma versão reduzida do Drug Use Screening Inventory; e um questionário sociodemográfico. Resultados: houve associação entre pais/responsáveis desconhecerem o que o filho considera importante para ele e o consumo de álcool e tabaco por adolescentes; também verificou-se associação entre ocorrência de relações conflituosas e o consumo de drogas ilícitas por adolescentes. Conclusões: foi evidenciado que a desorganização no sistema familiar, marcada por prejuízos nas ligações emotivas entre os membros, e a fragilidade no sentimento de pertença estão associadas ao consumo de drogas na vida pelos adolescentes.

Religious/spiritual coping and level of hope in patients with cancer in chemotherapy.

AIM: To demonstrate the relationship between religious/spiritual coping and hope in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach performed in a reference outpatient clinic in Caruaru, PE, between August and October 2017. A total of 82 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were included in the study, using the brief religious/spiritual coping scale (RCOPE-Brief) and the Herth Hope Scale (HHS). RESULTS: The sample presented mean positive RCOPE scores (3.03 ± 0.41) and the level of hope was considered high (42.7 points ± 3.67). Patients who had a high RCOPE score were found to have a higher mean of Herth's level of hope (44.12 points). CONCLUSION: This study becomes relevant to nursing professionals by encouraging care that takes into account the patient's spiritual dimension in order to stimulate positive mechanisms of religious coping and, consequently, raise the levels of hope.

Religious/spiritual coping and level of hope in patients with cancer in chemotherapy / Coping religioso/espiritual y nivel de esperanza en pacientes con cáncer en quimioterapia / Coping religioso/espiritual e nível de esperança em pacientes com câncer em quimioterapia

ABSTRACT Aim: To demonstrate the relationship between religious/spiritual coping and hope in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Method: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach performed in a reference outpatient clinic in Caruaru, PE, between August and October 2017. A total of 82 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were included in the study, using the brief religious/spiritual coping scale (RCOPE-Brief) and the Herth Hope Scale (HHS). Results: The sample presented mean positive RCOPE scores (3.03 ± 0.41) and the level of hope was considered high (42.7 points ± 3.67). Patients who had a high RCOPE score were found to have a higher mean of Herth's level of hope (44.12 points). Conclusion: This study becomes relevant to nursing professionals by encouraging care that takes into account the patient's spiritual dimension in order to stimulate positive mechanisms of religious coping and, consequently, raise the levels of hope.

RESUMEN Objetivo: demostrar la relación entre el coping religioso/espiritual y la esperanza en pacientes con cáncer en tratamiento quimioterápico. Método: se trata de un estudio transversal, descriptivo, con abordaje cuantitativo, realizado en un ambulatorio de referencia en tratamiento quimioterápico de Caruaru-PE, entre agosto y octubre de 2017. Participaron de la investigación 82 personas con cáncer en tratamiento quimioterápico, escala de coping religioso/espiritual breve (CRE-Breve) y la escala de esperanza de Herth (EEH). Resultado: la muestra presentó escores medios de CRE positivo (3,03 ± 0,41) y el nivel de esperanza fue considerado alto (42,7 puntos, ± 3,67). Se verificó que los pacientes que tuvieron clasificación alta del CRET presentaron mayor promedio del nivel de esperanza de Herth (44,12 puntos). Conclusión: se vuelve relevante a los profesionales de enfermería para alentar los cuidados que contemplan la dimensión espiritual del paciente a fin de estimular los mecanismos positivos del CRE y, consecuentemente, elevar los niveles de esperanza.

RESUMO Objetivo: demonstrar a relação entre o coping religioso/espiritual e a esperança em pacientes com câncer em tratamento quimioterápico. Método: trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado em um ambulatório de referência em tratamento quimioterápico de Caruaru-PE, entre agosto e outubro de 2017. Participaram da pesquisa 82 pessoas com câncer em tratamento quimioterápico, utilizando-se a escala de coping religioso/espiritual breve (CRE-Breve) e a escala de esperança de Herth (EEH). Resultados: a amostra apresentou escores médios de CRE positivo (3,03 ± 0,41), e o nível de esperança foi considerado alto (42,7 pontos; ± 3,67). Verificou-se que os pacientes que tiveram classificação alta do CRET apresentaram maior média do nível de esperança de Herth (44,12 pontos). Conclusão: este estudo torna-se relevante aos profissionais de enfermagem ao encorajar cuidados que contemplem a dimensão espiritual do paciente a fim de estimular os mecanismos positivos do CRE e, consequentemente, elevar os níveis de esperança.