Introduction: Spirituality is an important aspect of health care that has been proposed in nursing over the
past decades. It is recommended as an inseparable component of holistic nursing. This study aims to
explore the nurses’ and patients’ perception of spirituality in cancer care.
Method: In a conventional qualitative content analysis, data was collected through purposive sampling by
semi-structured deep interviews with 17 participants (10 patients and 7 nurses) in oncology units of
hospitals in Tabriz, and was analyzed simultaneously. Robustness of data analysis was evaluated by the
participants and external control.
Results: The emergent main theme was the "spirituality raising interactions". This theme consisted of
three sub-themes of "spiritual elevation in cancer care", "spiritual care barriers", and "religion-based
strategies". Patients with cancer understand cancer as an opportunity for belief correction, closeness to
God, and awareness of death as reincarnation. Nurses had poor skills in assessing and responding to
patients' spiritual needs and there were no support from organizations and clergymen for them in
addressing spiritual distress of patients. However, they were a source of energy, joy, hope, and power for
patients through their empathy, compassion, and openness. Patients and nurses used strategies based on
religious beliefs for strengthening their spiritual dimension.
Conclusion: Spiritual care requires a patient-centered approach in communication. Communication in
which the religious and spiritual beliefs of patients are considered as a valuable source of spiritual coping,
and which gives them the feeling of empathy, trust, passion, and joy. For reduction of barriers, the
integration of spiritual care issues in the curriculum of nursing and service training programs is
recommended. Care environment must be changed for religious practices and spiritual advisors and
clergymen should help patients and nurses in coping with spiritual distress.