Faith community nursing spiritual and health assessment related to cancer within the hispanic faith community

Faith Community Nursing Spiritual and Health Assessment Related to Cancer within the Hispanic Faith Community Faith communities are an important part of religious individuals’ daily lives. They provide them with support and hope. However, these individuals then might feel less of a need to approach health professionals in case of a disease. A spiritual self – assessment survey was developed and executed on Spanish speaking, Christian Hispanics to determine whether faith healing decreases their likelihood of undergoing cancer screening, prevention, and/or treatment. This project’s goal was thus to assess through the survey whether, and to what extent, does faith healing infringe upon early cancer screening, prevention, and / or treatment, as well as how in presence of treatment, individuals still retain their belief in faith healing.
The target community was an online community. The target community were 35 – 65 years old Spanish speaking Christian Hispanics. There were 4, 373 members of the blog: 2, 500 females and 1, 875 males (Graph 2). However, out of them, only 90 females (54% respondents) and 77 males (46% respondents) responded to the survey (Graphs 1 & 2). Respondents came from nineteen different countries: the U. S., Mexico, and several Central and South American countries (Appendix B). Moreover, 25 females and 33 males came from rural areas, and 65 females and 44 males came from urban areas. The survey was distributed on Facebook, where it was posted in a blog, and personal e-mails were sent as well. The survey was distributed under complete confidentiality and anonymity.
The target group was highly religious – with a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. All respondents (90 females and 77 males) prayed on a daily basis, read the Bible each week and believed it to be the guide on how to behave, turned to Jesus Christ for everything they did, had a personal relationship to Jesus Christ and believed Jesus Christ would help them with all their problems (see Appendix C). Their sense of community is strong as they all stated they love praying in groups, and go to underprivileged and disrespected communities to preach the Gospel (see Appendix C).
However, their health habits are at times inadequate. Participants were split into those with cancer and without. First the latter group will be discussed. Both genders were optimistic that Jesus would save them from cancer: 39 females and 29 males believed so (see Graph 6). As a result, 41 females and 31 males believed they cannot get cancer, and 58 females and 41 males had never been screened for cancer prior to this survey (see Graphs 5 & 4), out of 90 females and 77 males that responded. Those with cancer provided no better results. Besides praying, only 14 females and 8 males answered that they have cancer and follow the treatment plan (see Graph 7). It is interesting and important to note that the same number of participants is also aware that faith influences the way they view their disease (see Graph 8). Out of 90 female and 77 male respondents, 32 females and 21 males would recommend cancer screening for other females and males (see Graph 9).
Faith communities are crucial in solving health problems of the target group. Hispanics in the US and South and Central America have lower overall incidence and mortality rates than Whites and African Americans, despite the findings in this survey with regard to cancer screening and treatment (National Cancer Institute, 2008, Table 1; Jemal et al., 2011, Table 2). Their strong faith communities might be the cause of low incidence and mortality rates, and unlike in this survey, they might be the source of support for cancer screening and treatment. Thus, they need to be involved, more so as “[t]he health risks for the larger community are also health risks for the faith communities within it” (Smucker & Weinberg, 2009, p. 10). Nurses play an important role in faith communities. Through Faith Community Nursing (FCN), they “ will serve as health educators, advocates, personal health counselor, trainer of volunteers, and organizers of support groups, as it relates to the topic of cancer” (Smucker & Weinberg, 2009, p. 42). These nurses should also cooperate with clinics and other health officials so that they remain informed on changes in health of the overall population, such as cancer screening.
In short, health risks of the target group in this sample are related to their beliefs. Many believe faith would heal them: 43% females and 36% males (see Graph 5). As a result, they view with suspicion the importance of early cancer screening; prevention and/or early treatment. Thus, faith community nursing is needed. These communities can approach individuals on a trusted terrain and educate them. The blog will provide online flyers on breast, lung and colorectic cancer for women, and prostate, bladder and stomach cancer for men.
References
Jemal, A., Bray, F., Center, M. M., Ferlay, J., Ward, E., & Forman, D. (2011). Global cancer
statistics. A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 61 (2), 69 – 90. Doi: 10. 3322/caac. 20107
National Cancer Institute (2008). Cancer health disparities. Retrieved from
http://www. cancer. gov/cancertopics/factsheet/disparities/cancer-health-disparities
Smucker, C. J., & Weinberg, L. (2009). Faith community nursing: Developing a quality practice.
Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association.
Appendix A
Graph 1. Percentage of Females and Males Responding to the Survey.
Graph 2. Share of Males and Females Responding to the Survey in Comparison to the Total Blog Membership.
Graph 3. Geographical Representation of Genders According to Urban and Rural Settings.
Graph 4. Individuals who Never Received Cancer Screening, Comparison to Total Participants.
Graph 5. Individuals Believing Faith and Belief in Jesus Will Save Them from Cancer, Comparison to Total Participants.
Graph 6. Individuals Not Believing They Can Get Cancer, Comparison to Total Participants.
Graph 7. Individuals Following the Treatment Plan for Cancer, besides Praying, Comparison to Total Participants.
Graph 8. Individuals Believing Faith Influences the Way they View Their Disease, Comparison to Total Participants.
Graph 9. Individuals Recommending Cancer Screening to Others, Comparison to Total Participants.
Appendix B
Countries of the Survey Participants:
F = female
M = male
National (U. S.)

Florida: Miami (25; 20F, U / 5M, U), Fort Myers (2F, U), Pembroke Pines (3F, U), Jacksonville (0), Tallahassee (0)

New York: Bronx (2M, U), Queens (0), Richmond (0)

California: Los Angeles (15; 10F, U / 5M, U) and Sacramento (0)

Illinois: Chicago (10; 5F, U / 10M, U)
International

1. Argentina: Buenos Aires (4; 2F R / 2M, R)
2. Bolivia: La Paz (3M, R)
3. Brazil: Sao Paulo (10; 3F, U / 7M, U)
4. Chile: Santiago (5F, R)
5. Colombia: Bogota (10; 4F, U / 6M U)
6. Costa Rica: San Jose (5; 4F, U / 1M, U)
7. Cuba: Havana (4M, R)
8. Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo (6; 2F, R / 4M, R)
9. Ecuador: Quito and Guayaquil (3F, R)
10. Guatemala: Guatemala City (3F, R)
11. Honduras: Tegucigalpa (20; 5F, U / 15M, R)
12. Mexico: Mexico City (5; 2F, U / 3M, R)
13. Panama: Panama City (4M, U)
14. Peru: Lima (3; 2F, R / 1M, U)
15. Spain: Madrid (4; 1F, U / 3M, U)
16. Salvador: San Salvador (10; 8F, R / 2M, R)
17. Uruguay: Montevideo (2M, R)
18. Venezuela: Caracas (7; 6F, U / 1M, R)
Appendix C
Survey Results
Health needs in a spiritual context.
Follow Jesus Christ teachings
1. I ask my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for help on everything I do on a daily basis _____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
2. My personal relationship with Jesus Christ is developed in faith and love rather than fear _____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
3. Jesus Christ will help me through any situation or adversity I may face_____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
Study the Word
1. I read and study the Bible every week____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
2. I utilize the Bible to guide my thinking, actions, and way of life____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
3. I believe the Bible contains God’s truth for us to do the right thing in life____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
Faith and Prayer
1. I pray throughout the day by myself____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
2. My prayers helps others better their lives_____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
3. I love praying in groups____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
Share Testimonies of Faith
1. I forgive others when their behaviors and actions causes me pain or harm____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
2. I am always sharing testimonies of faith with non believers____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
3. I provide scriptures of testimonies of faith____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
Has a passion for Saving Souls
1. My spiritual gift is to serve others_____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
2. I want for Jesus Christ to use me in proclaiming his word____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
3. I along others go into underprivileged and overall bad neighborhoods to preach the Gospel_____ all 167 participants (90 females, and 77 males) answered
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ONLY if you do not have cancer
1. I have never been screened for cancer______ 58 females out of 90 answered; and 41 out of 77 answered
2. I do not believe I can get cancer_______ 41 females out of 90 answered; and 31 males out of 77 answered
3. I believe that by having faith and believing in Jesus Christ you will never get cancer_____ 39 females out of 90 answered; and 29 males out of 77 answered
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ONLY if living with cancer
1. Since diagnosed, I attend my doctor’s appointment, follow the treatment plan but also continue to pray for a healing miracle____14 females out of 90 answered; and 8 males out of 77 answered
2. Does your faith influence the way you look at your disease____ 14 females out of 90 answered; and 8 males out of 77 answered
3. Would you recommend cancer screening for females and males_____32 females out of 90 answered; and 21 males out of 77 answered