Table 2

Items representing measurable and validated aspects of spirituality and other dimensions of quality of life at the end of life

Rank no	Item (n=284)	Endorsed (%)	Missing* (n)	Spiritual +/ non-spiritual –
1	Being supported by religion20	98.9	0	+ S-CT-S-C
2	Believing in a supreme power21	96.8	0	+ S-CT
3	I feel peaceful22	96.8	1	+ S-WB
4	Talking with someone about religious issues23	96.5	0	+ S-CT
5	Pray23	96.5	0	+ S-CT
6	Believing in an afterlife21	95.4	1	+ S-CT
7	Feeling that one is protected by a higher power beyond oneself20	95.1	0	+ S-CT
8	It is important to me that my life has meaning24	94.0	0	+ S-WB
9	Reading a religious text23	93.3	0	+ S-CT
10	Dealing with unmet life goals25	92.9	1	+ S-WB
11	Accepting your life situations21	92.2	1	+ S-WB
12	In case of dying suddenly today, feeling prepared to leave this life24	90.5	0	+ S-WB
13	Feeling that one's life was fulfilling20	90.1	1	+ S-WB
14	Coping with feelings of sadness or grief25	85.9	0	–
15	Coping with feeling useless25	78.7	2	–
16	Having been able to say important things to those who are close22	78.4^†	1	+ S-WB
17	Wanting to share what you are going through with another person25	78.4^†	1	– PS
18	Dealing with feeling afraid25	78.3	3	– PS
19	Coping with fears about losing your independence25	75.3	1	– PS
20	Feeling more disconnected from all things now than before illness24	73.4	2	+ S-WB
21	Dealing with feeling dependent on others25	66.5	0	– PS
22	Coping with having difficulty relaxing25	65.6	2	– PS
23	Receiving emotional support from friends and family25	65.5	0	– PS
24	Dealing with maintaining relationships with friends25	54.1	1	– PS
25	Dealing with fears about the cancer spreading25	53.2	2	– PS
26	Trusting your physician20	37.0	3	– Other
27	Being involved with decisions about your medical treatment25	33.7	2	– Other
28	Dealing with concerns about your financial situations25	21.6	2	– Other
29	Getting adequate information from medical staff about your prognosis25	18.3	0	– Other
30	Coping with nausea and vomiting25	16.5	0	– Other

+, 15 items representing measurable and validated aspects of spirituality at the end of life in the literature (⁺reference 25 to literature in which item is validated).
–,15 items representing other measurable and validated aspects at the end of life in the literature (quality of life, psychosocial needs, physical needs, communication) (⁺reference to literature in which item is validated).
*Missing represents missing responses without comments or those with written comments such as 'do not know'.
†Exactly the same frequency.
Other, physical, medical-communicational, financial; PS, psychosocial needs; S-C, spiritual coping; S-CT, spiritual cognitive behavioural context (spiritual beliefs, spiritual activities, spiritual relationships); S-WB, spiritual wellbeing (peace/harmony/trust/hope/acceptance, purpose/meaning, connectedness, completion/fulfilment, positive affect/comfort).