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A Pilot Study Addressing the Impact of Religious Practice on Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients During Chemotherapy

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Abstract

The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate whether religious practice can modify quality of life (QoL) in BC patients during chemotherapy. QoL and religion practice questionnaire (RPQ) scores were evaluated in a sample of BC patients in different moments. Before chemotherapy initiation, women with lower physical and social functional scores displayed higher RPQ scores. On the other hand, low RPQ patients worsened some QoL scores over time. Body image acceptance was positively correlated with religious practice and specifically praying activity. This preliminary study suggests the importance of religion in coping with cancer chemotherapy.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Júlio César Donato for his help in collecting the data for this study and the Research Support Group—UNESP for revising the English text.

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None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Palliative Care Unit, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Unidade II, Rua 20, 221, Centro, Barretos, São Paulo, 14780-070, Brazil

    Carlos Eduardo Paiva

  2. Department of Public Health, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

    Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva

  3. Oncological and Hemato-oncological Center, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

    Rafael Amaral de Castro & Cristiano de Pádua Souza

  4. Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Yara Cristina de Paiva Maia

  5. Department of Nursing, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil

    Jairo Aparecido Ayres

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

    Odair Carlito Michelin

Authors
  1. Carlos Eduardo Paiva
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  2. Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva
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  3. Rafael Amaral de Castro
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  4. Cristiano de Pádua Souza
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  5. Yara Cristina de Paiva Maia
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  6. Jairo Aparecido Ayres
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  7. Odair Carlito Michelin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Eduardo Paiva.

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Paiva, C.E., Paiva, B.S.R., de Castro, R.A. et al. A Pilot Study Addressing the Impact of Religious Practice on Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients During Chemotherapy. J Relig Health 52, 184–193 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9468-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9468-6

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