Spiritual Well-Being, Religiosity, Quality of Life, Distress, Social Support, Depression, and Anxiety Among English- and Arabic-Speaking Muslim Americans With Advanced Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE

To learn about spiritual and psychosocial palliative care needs of Muslim Americans with advanced cancer.

METHODS

A cross-sectional English/Arabic (patient preference) survey was conducted with 120 Muslim Americans with advanced cancer in New York City (2022-2023). Survey instruments included Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G, quality of life), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-2 subscales), Medical Outcomes Study (MOS-emotional, tangible, affectionate support, positive social interactions), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Wellbeing (FACIT-SP-spiritual wellbeing, Modified Duke Religious Index (DUREL-religious involvement), Distress Thermometer and Problems List.

RESULTS

Most participants were from South Asia (30.8%), Middle East/North Africa (30.8%), and US (21.7%). On average, patients had high quality of life (FACT-G), little anxiety/depression (HADS), and high social support (MOS), spiritual wellbeing (FACIT-Sp), and religious involvement (DUREL); 51.7% had clinically high Distress Thermometer scores (4-10). We found strong positive correlations between FACIT-Sp and both total FACT-G (p < 0.001) and MOS (p < 0.001). There was a moderate positive correlation between FACIT-Sp and DUREL-intrinsic religiosity (p = 0.002). There was a strong positive correlation between total FACT-G and MOS (p < 0.001). There were strong negative correlations between Distress and FACT-G (p < 0.001), FACIT-Sp (p < 0.001), and MOS (p < 0.001). There were strong negative correlations between the HADS scales and FACT-G (p < 0.001), FACIT-Sp (p < 0.001), and MOS (p < 0.001). The HADS scales showed strong positive correlations with distress (p < 0.001) and each other (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Spirituality, religiosity, and social support may be assets in palliative care for Muslim Americans. Providers should work with patients to determine their individual palliative care needs.