The Influence of Spirituality and Religiosity in Palliative Care

Abstract

Abstract In recent years there has been talk of “Palliative care”, an interdisciplinary approach of care, which focuses on supporting and relieving patients and their family environment in progressive and life-threatening illnesses. Its aim is to provide optimal comfort and quality of life, maintain hope and family cohesion despite the possibility of death and generally support patients and their families in the stages of pain, illness and mourning. The theological approach of palliative care, with the opening of new horizons of view of pain and illness and their management with the help of faith, are challenges for the age of human omnipotence. The factors “spirituality” and “religiosity” have begun in recent years to be taken into account in the multitude of biological, psychological and spiritual factors that affect the body’s psychosomatic response to illness and treatment. In the present study, we are trying to explore the influence of religious faith in the management of physical, psychological, and mental problems, that arise in the parents of children with cancer. The research was conducted on a sample of 133 families facing childhood cancer and the collected data were analyzed using open source software. Purpose of the study is to explore whether belief in God in the general frame of palliative care, can play a decisive role during the childhood illness, managing emotions such as anxiety and fear, and maintaining the parent’s psychological balance.