Relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients

Spiritual health is one of the most critical health dimensions with remarkable influence on the life of individuals. Religion and spirituality play a pivotal role incoping with stressful events in life. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between spiritual health and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 223 patients at Mazandaran Multiple Sclerosis Association (MMSA), Iran in 2015.Participantswere selected via convenience sampling. Data collection tools included Paloutzian’s spiritual well-being questionnaire and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL-54) scale. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V.18 using ANOVA, T-test, and Pearson's correlation-coefficient. Results: In this study, the majority of MS patients (71.7%, n=160) had average spiritual health, and mean score of quality of life was 50.2±12. Moreover, significant correlationswere observed between the total score of quality of life with dimensions of existential health (P<0.0001, r=0.97), religious health (P<0.0001, r=0.95), and total score ofspiritual health (P<0.0001, r=0.97). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, spiritual health and religious beliefs could improve the quality of life in MS patients. Spiritual health is inherent to the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as MS. In Iran, ideational and religious doctrines remarkably influence people’s lives. Therefore, provision of culture-based and meaning-orientated care and adopting a wholesome attitude towards different aspects of MS could help medical professionals to offer the required services for these patients.