Symposium S4

Saturday, May 19, 14:00 - 15:30
René Hefti

Nature as the Most Important Coping Strategy with Cancer: A Swedish Survey

Fereshteh Ahmadi
Based on the findings of a qualitative study among cancer patients in Sweden (Ahmadi 2006), the authors have conducted a quantitative survey to examine to what extent the results are applicable to a wider population of cancer patients in Sweden. In addition to questions relating to the former qualitative study we have also used the RCOPE questionaire - designed by Kenneth I Pargament in the design of the new quantitative study. In this study, questionnaires are distributed among persons who are/were diagnosed with cancer in Sweden.

The study sample consisted of 2417 cancer patients (79 % women and 21 % men). Almost a third (29 %) of those who responded to the survey is 59 years old or younger; there are more (38 %) aged between 60 and 69 years. One third (33 %) are 70 years or older people.

The results show that nature has been the most important coping method among cancer patients in Sweden.

The highest mean value (2.9) is the factor "that nature has been an important resource to you so that you could deal with your illness "; Two out of three of the respondents (68 %) respond that this method in a large or quite a large extent helped them feel better during or after illness.

The second highest mean value (2.8) is the factor "Listening to 'natural music '(birdsong and the wind) "; Two out of three of the respondents (66 %) answered that this coping method in a large or quite a large extent helped them feel better during illness.

In third place with the third highest mean value (2.7) is "To walk or engage in any activity outdoors gives you a spiritual sense.”

The outcomes of the survey study concerning the role of the nature as the most important coping method with cancer confirms the result obtained from the previous qualitative studies.

Spiritual Care on the Edge

Ingrid Zürcher & Pascal Mösli

Patients in a coma or similar condition experience unusual mental states which they can not communicate in a well-known way.

How can physicians, nurses, pastors and other professionals get in contact with them?

Are there forms of communication fitting and supportive for patients and their close ones which can even positively influence the chances of healing?

The concept “Dreamland Intensive Care Unit” will be presented in this workshop and the pastoral experiences in work with patients, their close ones and co-workers in the university clinic will also be spoken of and discussed.