Exploring the influencing factors of spiritual well-being in patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a latent profile analysis.

BACKGROUND

Spiritual well-being (SWB) is an integral component of palliative and holistic care for patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy. However, its latent characteristics have not been fully explored.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify latent profiles of spiritual well-being (SWB) among patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy and to examine the factors influencing profile membership.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The study was conducted from February to June 2025 in the oncology departments of three Grade-A tertiary hospitals in Southwest China, involving 318 patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Data were collected using the Demographic Information Questionnaire, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spiritual Well-being Scale (FACIT-Sp), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Comprehensive Scores for Financial Toxicity Based on the Patient-reported Outcome Measures (COST-PROM), and the Family APGAR Index. Descriptive statistics, latent profile analysis, univariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were employed to identify latent profiles of SWB and their influencing factors.

RESULTS

The SWB of patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy was categorized into three latent classes: “Low SWB Group” (28.9%), “Moderate SWB Group” (36.5%), and “High SWB Group” (34.6%). Marital status, residence, monthly household income per capita, payment method for medical expenses, anxiety and depression, FT, and family function were identified as significant factors influencing different levels of SWB (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy showed marked heterogeneity in SWB, which could be classified into three latent profiles. These findings suggest that healthcare providers may use a biopsychosocial (BPS) framework to guide stratified supportive care tailored to profile-specific factors, integrating symptom management with psychosocial, family, and spiritual support as well as resource linkage, to better address patients’ diverse needs and potentially improve overall well-being.