The Effect of Group Spiritual Intervention Based on the Quran and Prayer on Spiritual Health of Patients with Cancer

Cancer causes emotional، psychological and spiritual problems. According to the spiritual needs of patients، in this study، we decided to explore the effect of Quran and prayer context on spiritual health of the patients with cancer. In this semi-experimental study، spiritual group therapy was conducted 3 times، during 2014، in Entekhab Cancer Control Center in Isfahan، Iran. Groups met on six sessions on 4 main communication axes (with God، with themselves، with others and with nature) with cognitive behavioral approach. Palutzian and Ellison spiritual health questionnaire، with 20 items and 2 subscales (existential and religious health) were completed by the patients before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired-t test at a significance level of P < 0. 05; the survey was conducted on 12 patients. Before intervention، the mean score of the group''s spiritual health was 59 and after it، changed to 77 (P = 0. 01). The mean changes in religious spiritual health and existential spiritual health were 10. 5 and 5، respectively. These changes were significant (P = 0. 01 for both); although، the changes were less in existential spiritual health. The survey showed that attitude to pray، feeling calm، and the power of the God was changed. The efficacy of spiritual interventions has been shown in many studies. In this study، using the themes of prayer، spiritual well-being improved. According to the results، it is better to respond to the existential needs of the patients.