Receiving Spiritual Care: Experiences of Dying and Grieving Individuals (original) (raw)
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An Exploratory Study of Spiritual Care at the End of Life
The Annals of Family Medicine, 2008
PURPOSE Although spiritual care is a core element of palliative care, it remains unclear how this care is perceived and delivered at the end of life. We explored how clinicians and other health care workers understand and view spiritual care provided to dying patients and their family members.
Current Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care, 2015
Purpose of review This is a literature review of the supportive roles of religion and spirituality (R/S) in end-of-life (EoL) and palliative care of patients with cancer in a culturally diverse context. This review examines 26 noteworthy articles published between August 2013 and August 2014 from five well supported databases. Recent findings Current evidence shows that R/S evokes in patients the sources to find the necessary inner strengths, which includes perspective thinking, rituals for transcending immediate physical condition and modalities of coping with their oncological illnesses. R/S are not a monolithically experience for they always manifest themselves in diverse cultural settings. As such, R/S provide the individual and their families with a practical context and social memory, which includes traditions and social family practices for maintaining meaning and well-being. Nonetheless, although various dimensions of R/S show a link between cancer risk factors and well being in cancer patients, more specific dimensions of R/S need to be studied taking into account the individuals' particular religious and cultural contexts, so that R/S variables within that context can provide a greater integrative structure for understanding and to move the field forward. Summary Behavioral, cognitive and psychosocial scientists have taken a more in-depth look at the claims made in the past, suggesting that a relationship between R/S, cultural diversity and health exists. Case in point are the studies on EoL care, which have progressively considered the role of cultural, religion and spiritual diversity in the care of patients with oncological terminal illnesses. Beyond these facts, this review also shows that EoL supportive and palliative care providers could further enhance their practical interventions by being sensitive and supportive of cultural diversity.
Hospice nurses' perspectives of spirituality
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2013
Aims and objectives. To explore Singapore hospice nurses' perspectives of spirituality and spiritual care. Design. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. Background. Spiritual care is integral to providing quality end-of-life care. However, patients often report that this aspect of care is lacking. Previous studies suggest that nurses' neglect of this aspect of care could be attributed to poor understanding of what spirituality is and what such care entails. This study aimed to explore Singapore hospice nurses' perspectives about spirituality and spiritual care. Methods. A convenience sample of hospice nurses was recruited from the eight hospices in Singapore. The survey comprised two parts: the participant demographic details and the Spirituality Care-Giving Scale. This 35-item validated instrument measures participants' perspectives about spirituality and spiritual care. Results. Sixty-six nurses participated (response rate of 65%). Overall, participants agreed with items in the Spiritual Care-Giving Scale related to Attributes of Spiritual Care; Spiritual Perspectives; Spiritual Care Attitudes; and Spiritual Care Values. Results from general linear model analysis showed statistically significant main effects between race, spiritual affiliation and type of hospice setting, with the total Spiritual Care-Giving Scale score and four-factor scores. Conclusions. Spirituality was perceived to be universal, holistic and existential in nature. Spiritual care was perceived to be relational and centred on respecting patients' differing faiths and beliefs. Participants highly regarded the importance of spiritual care in the care of patients at end-of-life. Factors that significantly affected participants' perspectives of spirituality and spiritual care included race, spiritual affiliation and hospice type. Relevance to clinical practice. Study can clarify values and importance of spirituality and care concepts in end-of-life care. Accordingly, spirituality and care issues can be incorporated in multi-disciplinary team discussions. Explicit guidelines regarding spiritual care and resources can be developed.
Spirituality and religiosity in the approach to patients under palliative care
Revista Bioética
The development of the care plan for patients under palliative care must be unique and comprehensive, seeking to meet, as far as possible, the patient’s needs. Within this plan, the spiritual and religious axis stands out. To analyze the importance of this type of approach, we carried out an integrative review study. The articles analyzed should answer the guiding question “what does the literature say about spirituality and religiosity in the approach to patients under palliative care?”. The sample comprised 15 articles that show the multidisciplinary nature of the theme and point out the benefits of combining the spiritual and religious axis with care plans. We observed, however, that some practices and religious aspects can negatively influence the individual and the professional team feels unprepared to address and develop this issue with its patients.
Spiritual care is an increasingly important component of end of life care. As it emerges in Israel, it is intentionally built on a nonclerical model. Based on interviews with spiritual care providers in Israel, we find that they help patients and families talk about death and say goodbyes. They encourage the wrapping up of unfinished business, offer diverse cultural resources that can provide meaning, and use presence and touch to produce connection. As spiritual care emerges in Israel, providers are working with patients at the end of life in ways they see as quite distinct from rabbis. They offer broad frames of meaning to which patients from a range of religious traditions can connect.
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Context: Spiritual care refers to practices and rituals addressing spiritual/religious concerns. It supports coping with loss and finding hope, meaning, and peace. Although integral to palliative care, its implementation is challenging. Objective: To understand an Australian cohort of patients' and caregivers' perspectives about experiencing and optimizing spiritual care in the context of advanced illness. Methods: Patients and caregivers of patients with ≤12 month prognosis were recruited from a broader spiritual study via criterion sampling and agreed to opt-in interviews. Participants from an Australian, metropolitan health service received a spiritual care definition and were interviewed. Transcripts were analysed using qualitative description. Results: Thirty patients (17 male; mean 70-years) and 10 caregivers (6 male; mean 58.9years) participated. Twenty-seven identified as Christian and 10 had no religion. Participants described multifaceted and contested beliefs about spirituality. Many queried the tangibility of spirituality but all valued respectful staff who affirmed personhood, that is, each individual's worth, especially when care exceeded expectations. They also resonated with positive organizational and environmental tones that improved holistic wellbeing. Participants stressed the importance of the hospital's welcoming context and skilled care, which comforted and reassured. Conclusion: While many patients and caregivers did not resonate with the term, "spiritual care", all described how the hospital's hospitality could affirm their values and strengthen coping. The phrase "spiritual care and hospitality" may optimally articulate and guide care in similar, pluralist inpatient palliative care contexts, recognising that such care encompasses an interplay of generalist and specialist pastoral care staff, and organizational and environmental qualities.
JAMA Internal Medicine, 2013
Previous studies report associations between medical utilization at the end-of-life (EoL) and religious coping and spiritual support from the medical team. However, the influence of clergy and religious communities on EoL outcomes is unclear. Objective: To determine whether spiritual support from religious communities influences terminally ill patients' medical care and quality of life (QoL) near death. Design, Setting, and Participants: A US-based, multisite cohort study of 343 patients with advanced cancer enrolled from September 2002 through August 2008 and followed up (median duration, 116 days) until death. Baseline interviews assessed support of patients' spiritual needs by religious communities. End-of-life medical care in the final week included the following: hospice, aggressive EoL measures (care in an intensive care unit [ICU], resuscitation, or ventilation), and ICU death. Main Outcomes and Measures: End-of-life QoL was assessed by caregiver ratings of patient QoL in the last week of life. Multivariable regression analyses were performed on EoL care outcomes in relation to religious community spiritual support, controlling for confounding variables, and were repeated among high religious coping and racial/ethnic minority patients. Results: Patients reporting high spiritual support from religious communities (43%) were less likely to receive hospice (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.20-0.70 [P=.002]), more likely to receive aggressive EoL measures (AOR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.14-6.06 [P=.02]), and more likely to die in an ICU (AOR, 5.22; 95% CI, 1.71-15.60 [P=.004]). Risks of receiving aggressive EoL interventions and ICU deaths were greater among high religious coping (AOR, 11.02; 95% CI, 2.83-42.89 [PϽ.001]; and AOR, 22.02; 95% CI, 3.24-149.58 [P = .002]; respectively) and racial/ethnic minority patients (AOR, 8.03; 95% CI, 2.04-31.55 [P=.003]; and AOR, 11.21; 95% CI, 2.29-54.88 [P=.003]; respectively). Among patients wellsupported by religious communities, receiving spiritual support from the medical team was associated with higher rates of hospice use (AOR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.03-5.44 [P=.04]), fewer aggressive interventions (AOR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06-0.79 [P=.02]) and fewer ICU deaths (AOR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.05-0.80 [P=.02]); and EoL discussions were associated with fewer aggressive interventions (AOR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-0.63 [P =.01]). Conclusions and Relevance: Terminally ill patients who are well supported by religious communities access hospice care less and aggressive medical interventions more near death. Spiritual care and EoL discussions by the medical team may reduce aggressive treatment, highlighting spiritual care as a key component of EoL medical care guidelines.
Journal of Religion and Health, 2021
This paper aims to describe how healthcare providers perceived spirituality and spiritual care while caring for dying patients and their families in a hospice setting in Karachi, Pakistan. Using a qualitative interpretive description design, individual in-depth interviews were conducted among healthcare providers. Thematic analysis approach was used for data analysis. Spirituality and spiritual care were perceived as shared human connections, relating to each other, acts of compassion, showing mutual respect while maintaining dignity in care and empowering patients and families. Developing spiritual competency, self-awareness, training and education, and self-care strategies for healthcare providers are essential components promoting spiritual care in a hospice setting.