Structure of the spiritual pain of bereaved caregivers of cancer patients: A preliminary scale development.

Authors

Hiroko Sumi, Shuji Hiramoto, Kento Masukawa, Tatsuya Morita, Yoshiyuki Kizawa, Satoru Tsuneto, Yasuo Shima, Mitsunori Miyashita, Yuki Shirai, Keiko Tamura

Published in

Palliative & supportive care. Volume 24. Pages e178. Jun 24, 2026. Epub Jun 24, 2026.

Abstract

Although spiritual pain in cancer patients has been extensively studied, little is known about the spiritual pain experienced by bereaved caregivers in Japan.
This preliminary scale development aimed to clarify the structure of spiritual pain experienced by bereaved caregivers of cancer patients.
This preliminary scale development was conducted as a secondary analysis of the nationwide J-HOPE4 survey, a cross-sectional questionnaire study of bereaved family members of cancer patients. Thirty-five items related to spiritual pain were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA).
Responses were obtained from 930 bereaved caregivers in general hospitals and palliative care units. Seven constructs were obtained through the EFA: Loneliness, Life's heartlessness, A sense of unfinished business, Distress over patient deterioration, Remorse, Regret, and A sense of loss.
This preliminary scale development provides insights into the structure of spiritual pain experienced by bereaved caregivers of cancer patients. Further validation using independent samples is required.
Seven factors of spiritual pain were identified among bereaved caregivers of cancer patients, and understanding this multidimensional experience may inform supportive care.

PMID:
42340189
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 24 Jun 2026.

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