Patients' and caregivers' contested perspectives on spiritual care for those affected by advanced illnesses : A qualitative descriptive study

Journal article


O'Callaghan, Clare, Brooker, Joanne, de Silva, William, Glenister, David, Melia, Cert Adelaide, Symons, Xavier, Kissane, David and Michael, Natasha. (2019). Patients' and caregivers' contested perspectives on spiritual care for those affected by advanced illnesses : A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 58(6), pp. 977-988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.08.004
AuthorsO'Callaghan, Clare, Brooker, Joanne, de Silva, William, Glenister, David, Melia, Cert Adelaide, Symons, Xavier, Kissane, David and Michael, Natasha
Abstract

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 analyzed using qualitative description.

Results
30 patients (17 male; mean age 70 years) and 10 caregivers (six male; mean age 58.9 years) participated. 27 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 well-being. Participants stressed the importance of the hospital's welcoming context and skilled care, which comforted and reassured.

Conclusion
Although 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, recognizing that such care encompasses an interplay of generalist and specialist pastoral care staff and organizational and environmental qualities.

Keywordspalliative care; spirituality; spiritual care; patients; caregivers; hospitality
Year2019
JournalJournal of Pain and Symptom Management
Journal citation58 (6), pp. 977-988
PublisherElsevier Inc.
ISSN0885-3924
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.08.004
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85071840318
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range977-988
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online09 Aug 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted05 Aug 2019
Deposited16 Aug 2021
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