Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention to Teach Spiritual Care to Spanish Nursing Students

Abstract

Spirituality and spiritual care in professional nursing are conceptualised and recognised as fundamental components of holistic healthcare. Despite the acceptance of and interest in spiritual care, a lack of education and clinical training on the subject limits nurses’ ability to meet patients’ spiritual needs. Consequently, the aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of a training programme designed to teach the specific knowledge, attitudes and competencies necessary to provide spiritual care in nursing practice. This study consisted of a one-group pre-post intervention design with two measurement times (baseline/pre-intervention and post-intervention). A teaching activity about spiritual care in nursing practice was designed and implemented (focal groups, open discussion, discussion groups and clinical case studies). The educational intervention was developed by the authors based on a literature review, research and feedback from the undergraduate students. A convenience sample of 369 nursing students at the University of Alicante (Spain) who were enrolled in the teaching subject of Psychology participated in this study. The effectiveness of the teaching activity was assessed through a self-administered 15-item questionnaire. The post-intervention results indicated that the programme was effective in improving knowledge, competencies and attitudes related to spiritual care. The implications of this study for teaching practice and future research are discussed

Implementing a Spiritual Care Subject for Holistic Nursing Practice: A Mixed Method Study

“…The first mixed method finding was the spiritual care subject transformed the participant's knowledge and practice of spiritual care so they viewed themselves more enabled to provide spiritual care competently within holistic care practice after completion of the spiritual care subject. Other studies (Fernández-Pascual et al, 2020;Scott Barss, 2020;Taylor et al, 2009) also found spiritual care teaching and learning activities also had an influence on knowledge and practice of spiritual care. The beneficial influence of spiritual care education in undergraduate nursing programs was noted regardless of the institutional environment the student was studying in, for instance whether the student was studying at a public or private, religious or nonreligious affiliated institution (Cooper & Chang, 2016;Garner et al, 2002;Taylor et al, 2009).…”

“…Spirituality has had a range of meanings ascribed, including existential viewpoints such as finding purpose and meaning in life (Fernández-Pascual et al, 2020; van Leeuwen et al, 2021), religious perspectives (Chew et al, 2016; Ozbasaran et al, 2011), and hope and support in suffering (McSherry & Jamieson, 2013; Melhem et al, 2016). Spiritual care also has a diversity of interpretations including support of the patient's religious beliefs and needs (McSherry et al, 2020) and developing a compassionate relationship with and sensitively listening to a patient (van Leeuwen et al, 2021).…”

“…Spiritual care teachings have been incorporated into some undergraduate nursing curricula in countries such as the US and Malta in an attempt to address this inadequacy of education (Baldacchino, 2015; Burkhart & Schmidt, 2012; Temby, 2020; White & Hand, 2017). A few studies have investigated the influence of these teachings on undergraduate nursing students perceptions in providing spiritual care using single paradigm methodological approaches (Burkhart & Schmidt, 2012; Cooper & Chang, 2016; Fernández-Pascual et al, 2020; Scott Barss, 2020; van Leeuwen et al, 2008). These studies revealed spiritual care teachings had beneficial effects on nursing students’ perceptions of spiritual care.…”

Medical emergency Team as an accidental witness to the ritual of exorcism performed on a pregnant Muslim woman

“…In some Muslim countries, there has been a need for formal training of nurses in providing spiritual care to patients, especially those with cancer [15]. Fernández-Pascual MD, et al [16] state the need to adopt an adequate curriculum and on-the-job training in the Muslim health care system to increase the competence of nurses in providing spiritual care to patients.…”

Competencia en cuidado espiritual en enfermería: Revisión integrativa de literatura

“…Fuente: Adaptado de la declaración PRISMA para publicación de revisiones sistemáticas y meta análisis Desde el punto de vista metodológico, un porcentaje importante de los estudios usan un diseño de tipo cuasiexperimental sin grupo control y con muestras seleccionadas a conveniencia, con participación voluntaria lo que pudiera emplear un sesgo de selección en los resultados [19][20][21][22] . Otros estudios (n=5) presentan aleatorización con grupo control lo que indica resultados más sólidos respecto al efecto [23][24][25][26] .…”