"Waiting for a miracle": Spirituality/Religiosity in coping with sickle cell disease

• Published in: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem Vol. 72; no. 6; pp. 1554 - 1561
• Main Authors: Gomes, Maiara Vitor, Xavier, Aline da Silva Gomes, Carvalho, Evanilda Souza de Santana, Cordeiro, Rosa Cândida, Ferreira, Sílvia Lúcia, Morbeck, Amarry Dantas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem 2019
• Subjects: Adult; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Anemia, Sickle Cell - nursing; Anemia, Sickle Cell - psychology; Anxiety - psychology; Attitude to Death; Content analysis; Coping; Disease management; Fear; Female; Health psychology; Holistic Nursing; Hope; Humans; Life Style; Male; Mental health; Middle Aged; Nursing Care; Pain; Pain Management - psychology; Qualitative Research; Religion; Religion and Psychology; Religion and Science; Sickle cell disease; Social Support; Spirituality; Young Adult; Brazil; Bahia Brazil
• ISSN: 0034-7167; 1984-0446
• DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0635

To understand spirituality/religiosity as experienced by people with sickle cell disease, and its influence on coping with the disease.
A qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study conducted in the State of Bahia. Twenty-nine respondents participated in semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was used to analyze the empirical material.
Individuals with sickle cell disease experience spirituality/religiosity motivated by their hope for a miracle, and fear of death; among their rites are: reading religious materials, individual and group prayer, and attendance at worship services. The effects on their health include: comfort by means of coping by comparing two evils, anxiety relief, social support, and lifestyle changes; however, spirituality/religiosity may be impaired.
This study demonstrates the need to qualify health professionals to address spiritual issues of these individuals during illness, with the aims of diagnosing suffering and anguish, and providing care, comfort and strengthening of the spiritual bonds of these individuals.