Spiritual Expressions of African Americans and Whites in Cancer Pain

Abstract

Background: Spiritual practices are one way that individuals cope with cancer pain. Purpose: Describe and contrast expressions and values about the use of spirituality for pain in African American (AA) and White (WH) oncology patients. Methods: Six groups (3 AA; 3 WH; n=42; mean age 58) were conducted. Focus group and qualitative methodology with a cultural interpretive lens was utilized. The Model of Integrated Spirituality provided the conceptual framework for understanding the narratives. Findings: AAs and WHs did not differ on demographics, pain status, or integrative therapies. Three spirituality themes emerged: 1) pain and distress as antecedents to the use of spirituality; 2) active and existential attributes of the use of spirituality; and 3) mobilization of internal and external resources as outcomes. There were commonalities between AAs and WHs but greater frequency of certain subthemes and keywords in AAs. Conclusions: Future studies should examine whether differences in overt expressions translate into different types and levels of spiritual usage. Implications for Practice: Clinicians should recognizing similar as well as different uses and descriptions of spirituality between African Americans and Whites.