Exploring the psychological and religious perspectives of cancer patients and their future financial planning: a Q-methodological approach

Background Cancer patients are often hesitant to talk about their mental health, religious beliefs regarding the disease, and financial issues that drain them physically and psychologically. But there is a need to break this taboo to understand the perceptions and behaviours of the patients. Previou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC palliative care 2022-10, Vol.21 (1), p.1-186, Article 186
Main Authors: Khan, Kanwal Iqbal, Sabir, Qurat ul An, Shafqat, Ambreen, Aslam, Muhammad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Cancer Patients
Cancer therapies
Coping
Disease
Finance
Financial Burden
Financial planning
Illnesses
Palliative care
Patients
Perceptions
Personal and Financial Planning
Personal finance
Population
Psychological aspects
Psychological impacts
Q-methodology
Religion
Religious aspects
Religious beliefs
Suicides & suicide attempts
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Summary:Background Cancer patients are often hesitant to talk about their mental health, religious beliefs regarding the disease, and financial issues that drain them physically and psychologically. But there is a need to break this taboo to understand the perceptions and behaviours of the patients. Previous studies identified many psychological factors that are bothering cancer patients. However, it still requires exploring new elements affecting their mental and physical health and introducing new coping strategies to address patients' concerns. Methods The current study aims to identify cancer patients' perceived attitudes towards the severity of illness, understand their fears, tend towards religion to overcome the disease, and future financial planning by using a Q-methodological approach. Data were collected in three steps from January-June 2020, and 51 cancer patients participated in the final stage of Q-sorting. Results The findings of the study are based on the principal component factor analysis that highlighted three essential factors: (1) feelings, (2) religious beliefs about the acceptance of death, and (3) their future personal and financial planning. Further, the analysis shows that the patients differ in their beliefs, causes and support that they received as a coping mechanism. Conclusion This study explains cancer patients' psychological discomfort and physical pain but cannot relate it to co-morbidities. Q methodology allows the contextualization of their thoughts and future planning in different sets, like acceptance of death, combating religion's help, and sharing experiences through various platforms. This study will help health professionals derive new coping strategies for treating patients and financial managers to design insurance policies that help them to share their financial burdens. Keywords: Cancer Patients, Q-methodology, Religious beliefs, Psychological impacts, Financial Burden, Personal and Financial Planning, Fear and Acceptance of Death
ISSN:1472-684X
1472-684X
DOI:10.1186/s12904-022-01079-z