Holistic philosophy and spiritual well being in people facing life-threatening illness

Abstract

This research study was carried out to establish the significance of a holistic philosophy to the spiritual well being of people facing life-threatening illness. A phenomenological framework was adopted to conduct the research and the subjects were drawn from the Northumberland Cancer Support Group, which is affiliated to the Bristol Cancer Help Centre. Seven individual accounts are presented as part of the organisational case study, six of which concern people directly affected by cancer and one related to the carer of someone who has received a cancer diagnosis. The individual accounts are presented first as phenomenological description and are then subjected to phenomenological analysis. The significance of a holistic philosophy to the spiritual well being of the subjects is determined as part of this approach. The research was conducted to gain insight into the everyday reality and lived experience of the participants. The overall themes which emerge are the alterations to senses of self of the subjects directly affected by cancer as a result of receiving this diagnosis and the associated change from a naive to a scrutenising perspective on life and mortality. The importance of mundane routines and activities, which had previously been taken completely for granted, in maintaining purpose in life and reinforcing social roles and senses of self is also evident. Holism's contribution to spiritual well being is associated with the capacity for this approach to address every aspect of the person and to increase the individual's capacity for self healing. The human to human aspect of holism is of particular significance to the research participants and it is clear that the support group provides a therapeutic environment and shared universe of meaning for them.