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Interventions to support spirituality among adults with cancer: a scoping review

Summary

This review examined different ways healthcare providers can support the spiritual needs of cancer patients. Researchers found 21 different spiritual care programs that help patients, ranging from meditation groups to counseling sessions with spiritual care specialists. Common approaches included mindfulness practices, discussions about meaning and purpose, and prayer. Most programs showed positive results in helping patients feel more spiritually connected and at peace during cancer treatment.

Background

Spirituality is recognized as a core component of holistic cancer care and palliative support. Adults with cancer frequently experience spiritual needs and express openness to spiritual care, yet healthcare providers often lack confidence and training to address spirituality in clinical settings.

Objective

To identify available interventions to address spirituality among people with cancer, explore their common components, and examine efficacy across different intervention approaches.

Results

Twenty-six publications representing 21 unique interventions were identified. Common intervention components included prayer, mindfulness/meditation practices, and facilitated sessions with trained spiritual care providers. Individually-focused interventions increased hope, spiritual well-being, meaning, and faith; group-based interventions improved spiritual health and well-being; and psilocybin-assisted therapy showed improvements in spiritual well-being and connection.

Conclusion

A diverse range of spirituality-focused interventions exist for cancer care with evidence supporting positive effects on spiritual outcomes. Future research should clarify which interventions are most effective under specific conditions and support translation of high-quality spiritual care interventions into clinical practice.
  • Published in:Supportive Care in Cancer,
  • Study Type:Scoping Review,
  • Source: 10.1007/s00520-025-09787-x, PMID: 40751754
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