A survey on Relationship of Spirituality with the Perception of suffering and Quality of Life in Patients with Type 2 diabetes

Spirituality can be an important source of coping with the disease, reduce feelings of suffering and improving quality of life in patients with chronic diseases.  The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of spirituality with the Perception of suffering and Quality of Life in Patients with Type 2 diabetes.

This was a descriptive-correlation study. Participants were 145 patients with type 2 diabetes of rural health clinics and the valley hospital in khorramshahr city which were selected via stratified random and available sampling methods. Data collection tools were version of 29-item of the spiritual questionnaire (Parsian and Dunning), Experience and Perception of Suffering Questionnaire (Schulz) and version of 26-item of the Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO). Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 16.0 software and Pearsonchr('39')s correlation, T-test, ANOVA, Post Hoc and Stepwise Regression analytical statistics.

The spirituality average scores were 79.41±15.82, Perception of Suffering average scores, 54.89±2.14 and Quality of Life 74.44±1.65. There was a significant negative relationship between spirituality and feelings of suffering (p<0.05) and significant positive relationship between spirituality and quality of life (p<0.0001).

 A strong correlation between spirituality with quality of life and, Suffering in patients with type II diabetes, demonstrate the roles and responsibilities of healthcare providers, including physicians and nurses and the patientchr('39')s family in meeting the varied spiritual and religious needs of patients along with therapeutic actions. Paying attention to improve spiritual health is also important in education programs for these patients.