ASSESSING SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING OF ARAB MUSLIM PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVORS: A REFLECTION FOR A NEW SPIRITUAL HEALTH CARE POLICY

Religious and spiritual beliefs are some of numerous factors that influence quality of life outcome of cancer survivors. Spirituality is believed to be an important component of overall well-being and it is especially significant in relation to how cancer survivors cope with their morbidity.The purpose of this study was to explore spiritual well-being of Arab, Muslim prostate cancer survivors living in Gaza Strip, Palestine. A cross-sectional design was used in this study using the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS). A total of 117 Arab, Muslim patients diagnosed with prostate cancer from Gaza Strip participated in this study. Results revealed high scores of SWBS. Score for the total SWBS was 101.16 (±5.47) while was 58.91 (2.06±) for Religious Well-Being (RWB) subscale and 42.25 (±4.58) for Existential Well-Being (EWB) subscale. Scores were not affected by demographic characteristics of participants. Results of this study revealed high scores of SWBS which serve as a stimulus for health care providers and health policy makers to establish new spiritual health care policy for prostate cancer patients and other patients diagnosed with other types of cancers and other chronic diseases.