Spirituality and suffering of patients with heart failure

Abstract

2008) Spirituality and suffering of patients with heart failure, Progress in Palliative Care, 16:5-6, 257-265 To link to this article: http://dx.Heart failure is the terminal stage of cardiac disease and, as such, potentially involves spiritual issues and suffering. Spirituality has been shown to be related to adaptation, life satisfaction, and depression. Further, as depression is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure, spirituality is important for clinicians to consider. Patients with heart failure are disadvantaged compared to patients with other terminal diseases. The heart failure illness trajectory is unpredictable and the potential for sudden, unanticipated death exists. The management of end-stage heart failure is often associated with distressing symptoms, multiple hospitalizations and the potential for suffering. Patients are often less likely to understand their illness, have access to supportive care and have the opportunity to plan for death and dying. Unmet spiritual needs and suffering may go under diagnosed and treated. This suggests the need for a more palliative approach emphasizing the optimization of multidimensional life satisfaction and the relief of suffering. The purpose of this article is to focus primarily on spirituality and suffering, spiritual needs, and related interventions for patients living (and potentially suffering) with heart failure. Traditionally, care has been focused on meeting the physical suffering needs of patients, such as breathlessness, pain and fatigue, and to prolong life. Current thinking needs to shift to include the assessment of the psychological, social and spiritual needs and to improve life satisfaction. Interventions that have been developed for other chronic, terminally ill patients are described and new, potentially helpful interventions are proposed.

Spirituality, Spiritual Well-Being, and Spiritual Coping in Advanced Heart Failure: Review of the Literature

“…Life review has also been suggested as a potential intervention (K. Y. Chan, Lau, et al, 2016; Oates, 2004; Steinhauser et al, 2008; Westlake, Dyo, Vollman, & Heywood, 2008). This intervention is targeted at helping individuals work through the meaning-making process to achieve a positive view of past and present life events (Steinhauser et al, 2008).…”

Spiritual needs and spiritual support preferences of people with end-stage heart failure and their carers: implications for nurse managers

“…() and highlights the potential value of pastoral counselling (Westlake et al . ) in enhancing spiritual wellbeing and in reducing depression (Whelan‐Gales et al . ).…”

“…) and interventions such as meaning‐centred therapies and pastoral counselling (Westlake et al . ). Few studies, however, have focused on exploring the spiritual needs and spiritual support preferences of heart failure patients in the UK.…”

Patient and family members' perceptions of palliative care in heart failure

“…There is a preponderance of evidence indicating that HF exacts a tremendous physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual toll on the people diagnosed with it 2–8 and the family members who care for them. 2, 9, 10 Multiple research teams have examined the experience of patients with late-stage HF.…”