Abstract
PURPOSE: To explore the changing trend and influencing factors of spiritual care needs of lung cancer patients at different time points of chemotherapy, so as to provide intervention sensitive time points for formulating targeted intervention programs. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted to select 178 lung cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy in the oncology department of our hospital from August to December 2024. The study utilized a general data questionnaire, Chinese versions of the Nurses' Spiritual Care Scale, Chronic Disease Treatment Function Evaluation-Spiritual Health Scale, Self-perceived Burden Scale, Chronic Disease Management Self-efficacy Scale, and spiritual coping questionnaire at four time points: before chemotherapy (T(1)), 1 month after chemotherapy (T(2)), 2 months after chemotherapy (T(3)), and 3 months after chemotherapy (T(4)). Follow-up surveys were carried out both before and after chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients completed 4 follow-up surveys, the effective recovery rate was 92.70%. The spiritual care need scores of lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at 4 time points were (30.11 ± 3.74) points, (33.89 ± 4.06) points, (36.47 ± 3.96) points and (37.43 ± 3.72) points, respectively, showing a significant upward trend (P < 0.001). The results of generalized estimation equation analysis showed that the per capita monthly income of high level family, brother and sister of main carer, spiritual health-meaning, emotional burden, self-efficacy of disease common management and spiritual coping were the influencing factors of spiritual care needs of lung cancer patients with chemotherapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the future, it is imperative for nurses to promptly identify lung cancer chemotherapy patients who exhibit significant spiritual care needs and to deliver comprehensive and targeted spiritual support tailored to these individuals.