SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING IN CANCER PATIENTS: ROLE OF VIETNAMESE

Abstract

This study aimed to validate the Vietnamese version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Spiritual Well-Being 32 (EORTC QLQ-SWB32) for use among Vietnamese cancer patients. A descriptive study design was employed to collect data from 367 cancer patients in four hospitals across Vietnam: the National Lung Hospital, the Oncology Department of Nam Dinh General Hospital, Nghe An Oncology Hospital, and the Oncology Department of Lam Dong General Hospital. The data collection period spanned from November 2021 to April 2022. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess the construct validity of the Vietnamese version of the questionnaire. Lung cancer was the most prevalent type, accounting for 83.4% of the cases. CFA confirmed the cultural relevance and validity of the questionnaire for Vietnamese cancer patients, with satisfactory fit indices: Chi-Square/df = 2.330, goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.896, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.890, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.060. The reliability of the instrument was strong, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.731 to 0.808 and MacDonald’s omega values ranging from 0.722 to 0.804. The Vietnamese version of the EORTC QLQ-SWB32 demonstrated good validity and reliability, making it a suitable tool for assessing the spiritual well-being of cancer patients in Vietnam. This instrument provides valuable insights into the spiritual dimensions of quality of life for cancer patients facing serious illness.