Spirituality as a Coping Mechanism for Chronic Illness

Abstract

Chronic illness and sickness includes more than just the physical treatment of a disease process. Health care relational models emphasize that adequate care for an illness involves ensuring that a patient’s emotional health and well-being is addressed along with one’s physical well-being. During a health care assessment, a doctorally prepared advanced practice nurse (APN) should take into consideration the patient’s physiological, social, neurological, and spiritual health. Today’s health care arena does not allow or reimburse for lengthy assessments or extensive health histories, practices, and support systems. The time allotted instead is spent listening to each patient’s current issues, making an assessment and diagnosis, and formulating a treatment plan and educating the patient accordingly. Because of the drive for efficiency, mainly because of reimbursement reductions, providers may doubt the necessity to discuss spirituality in the management of chronic illness. Patients that lack a social support system especially may benefit from a doctorally prepared APN’s nurturing of their spirituality for emotional comfort. Spirituality influences the ability of the patient to cope with chronic pain, either negatively or positively, and is acknowledged by doctorally prepared APNs as an important coping mechanism. For these reasons, doctorally prepared APNs should be aware of community resources to support patients with their spiritual growth and well-being.

Spiritual Well-Being Of Post-Stroke Patients In Neurological Polyclinic of Al Ihsan Regional Public Hospital, West Java Province

“…It showed that most post-stroke patients in the neurological polyclinic of Al Ihsan Regional Public Hospital can adapt to the illness even if they have to rely on lifelong treatment. Lewis & Eric (2013) said in their book that spiritual well-being and fatigue were the main parameters in assessing health-related to the quality of life and tolerance to medical treatment thus reflecting the patient's ability to deal with illness.…”

Pelatihan Manajemen Stress Kepada Penderita Penyakit Kronis di Desa Warisa

“…Pengalaman hidup keterhubungan dengan Tuhan dan pencarian makna hidup tampaknya menjadi mekanisme koping spiritual yang penting selama menderita penyakit kronis. Spiritualitas membantu mereka melalui krisis yang disebabkan oleh penyakitnya (Lewis & Peterson, 2013). Peserta juga lebih banyak menjawab salah sebelum penyuluhan pada item diam ketika ada masalah.…”

A Qualitative Pilot Study of Spirituality in Long-term Recovery in Acquired Brain Injury

“…Despite the plethora of multidisciplinary research supporting the integration of spirituality for improving patient outcomes, recognition of this factor has been delegated to the sidelines of promoting wellbeing in chronic conditions (Daaleman & Nease, 1994;Ellis, Vinson, & Ewigman, 1999;Garrett, 2002;Gaventa, 2001;King & Bushwick, 1994;Mytko & Knight, 1999). The literature is pointing to a better recognized role of spirituality and religiosity in the cultivation of PTG to ameliorate the chronic effects of an ABI (Chally & Carlson, 2004;Laudet & White, 2008;Lewis, Peterson, & Peterson, 2013;Lucette, Ironson, Pargament, & Krause, 2016;Oyesanya, 2017).…”