Abstract

PURPOSE
The study was to identify the relationship between the spiritual well-being, family support and depression in cancer patients. METHOD: Data were collected by questionnaires from 116 inpatients with cancer at one university hospital in J area using Spiritual Well-being Scale, Family Support Scale, and BDI. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS WIN 12.0 program. RESULT: 1) The mean scores of well-being, family support, and depression were 107.28, 41.14, and 16.79 respectively. 2) There were significant differences in the spiritual well-being by age, education, religion, and social group. There were significant differences in the family support by age, education, and number of admission. There were significant differences in the depression by occupation and social group. 3) Depression was significantly correlated with spiritual well-being, and family support. 4) The most signifiant predictor which influenced depression in cancer patients was spiritual well-being, followed by occupation, age, family support. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that providing spiritual nursing intervention and enhancing family support will effectively decrease depression in cancer patients.

• Keywords: Cancer Patients; Spiritual Well-being; Family Support; Depression