The Effectiveness of Psychological Dhikr Therapy in Improving the Quality of Life ofCancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is a chronic disease with increasing prevalence globally, including Indonesia, and has a significant impact on patients' quality of life, encompassing physical, emotional and spiritual aspects. By 2022 according to GLOBOCAN, there will be 242,988 cancer deaths in Indonesia, with lung cancer (34,339) being the leading cause, followed by liver, breast, cervical and colorectal cancers. Side effects such as fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression add to the patient's burden, especially during
chemotherapy. Objective: This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of dhikr therapy in improving the quality of life of cancer patients during chemotherapy. Methods: The study used a quasi-experimental approach with a one-group pre-post test design. The sample consisted of 37 adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at Sembiring General Hospital, selected by purposive sampling technique. Dhikr intervention was conducted for 4 weeks, with data collected using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire to measure quality of life, as well as dhikr activity logs. Data analysis used paired t-test to evaluate changes before and after the intervention. Results: This study showed a significant improvement in patients' quality of life after dhikr therapy. The mean change score reached -9.184 with a standard deviation of 4.373, and a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05), indicating that this difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Dhikr therapy is effective in improving the quality of life of cancer patients, especially in the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.