The Psychological and Spiritual Dimensions of Palliative Care: A Descriptive Systematic Review

Rêgo, Francisca; Pereira, ida; Rêgo, Guilhermina; Nunes, Rui

doi:10.4172/neuropsychiatry.1000370

Cited by 24 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 78 publications

(246 reference statements)

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“…However, palliative care is a holistic and comprehensive approach, and psychological and spiritual care is an important aspect of EOL care. Nurses should be competent in providing psychological and spiritual care [37]. Additional effort is needed to fill the knowledge gaps in psychological and spiritual care among Mongolian nurses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy towards palliative care among nurses in Mongolia: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Kim

Gelegjamts

2020

PLoS ONE

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Background Nurses have a primary role in providing palliative and end-of-life (EOL) care. Their knowledge of EOL care, attitudes toward care of the dying, and palliative care self-efficacy are important in care delivery. Little is known regarding palliative care preparedness among Mongolian nurses. This study examines palliative care knowledge, attitude towards death and dying, and self-efficacy among Mongolian nurses, and examines predictors of selfefficacy. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Participants were 141 nurses employed at the National Cancer Center in Mongolia. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Results The median score for the knowledge of palliative care was 8.0/20. "Psychosocial and spiritual care" was the lowest score on the palliative care knowledge subscale. The mean score for attitude toward care of the dying was 69.1%, indicating positive attitudes. The mean score for the palliative care self-efficacy was 33.8/48. Nurses reported low self-efficacy toward communicating with dying patients and their families, and managing delirium. Palliative care knowledge and duration of experience as an oncology nurse significantly predicted self-efficacy toward palliative care, accounting for 14.0% of the variance. Conclusions Palliative education for nurses should address the knowledge gaps in EOL care and focus in increasing palliative care self-efficacy. Considering palliative care knowledge and nursing experience as an oncology nurse were significant predictors of self-efficacy toward palliative care, more effort is needed to fill the knowledge gaps in EOL care among nurses, especially for less experienced nurses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy towards palliative care among nurses in Mongolia: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Kim

Gelegjamts

2020

PLoS ONE

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“…During decision-making, uncertainty can be resolved through information-gathering; however, as a consequence, patients can perceive the decision as effective despite experiencing uncertainty [42]. The FACIT-Sp, which is one of the most common instruments used in a palliative care setting to measure quality of life in general and spiritual wellbeing in particular [6], displayed sufficient to very good internal consistency.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spirituality is a significant dimension of quality of life along with physical and psychological wellbeing in palliative care patients [4][5][6]. It is common for end of life patients to explore his or her spirituality [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of spirituality on decision-making in palliative care outpatients: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2020

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Background: Decision-making in palliative care can be complex due to the uncertain prognosis and general fear surrounding decisions. Decision-making in palliative care may be influenced by spiritual and cultural beliefs or values. Determinants of the decision-making process are not completely understood, and spirituality is essential for coping with illness. Thus, this study aims to explore the influence of spirituality on the perception of healthcare decision-making in palliative care outpatients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed. A battery of tests was administered to 95 palliative outpatients, namely: sociodemographic questionnaire (SQ), Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being scale (FACIT-Sp), and a semi-structured interview (SSI) to study one's perception of spirituality and autonomy in decision-making. Statistical analyses involved descriptive statistics for SQ and SSI. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare scale scores between groups and correlations were used for all scales and subscales. The analysis of patients' definitions of spirituality was based on the interpretative phenomenological process. Results: Spiritual wellbeing significantly correlated with greater levels of physical, emotional and functional wellbeing and a better quality of life. Greater spiritual wellbeing was associated with less decisional conflict, decreased uncertainty, a feeling of being more informed and supported and greater satisfaction with one's decision. Most patients successfully implemented their decision and identified themselves as capable of early decision-making. Patients who were able to implement their decision presented lower decisional conflict and higher levels of spiritual wellbeing and quality of life. Within the 16 themes identified, spirituality was mostly described through family. Patients who had received spiritual care displayed better scores of spiritual wellbeing, quality of life and exhibited less decisional conflict. Patients considered spirituality during illness important and believed that the need to receive spiritual support and specialised care could enable decision-making when taking into consideration ones' values and beliefs. Conclusion: The impact of spiritual wellbeing on decision-making is evident. Spirituality is a key component of overall wellbeing and it assumes multidimensional and unique functions. Individualised care that promotes engagement in decision-making and considers patients' spiritual needs is essential for promoting patient empowerment, autonomy and dignity.

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“…One of the dimensions of growing significance, especially as a disease is progressing, is a person's spirituality, which explains why spiritual care has to be an integral element of PC ( 6 ). Spirituality is the way a person seeks and expresses the meaning and purpose of their own life, and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to themselves, to others, to nature and to the significant or sacred and goes far beyond religiosity ( 135 ). According to EAPC, spirituality is multidimensional and consists of existential challenges, value based considerations and attitudes and religious considerations and foundations ( 136 ).…”

Section: The Elements Of Pc Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palliative Care for People Living With Heart Disease—Does Sex Make a Difference?

Sobański

Krajnik

Goodlin

2021

Front. Cardiovasc. Med.

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The distribution of individual heart disease differs among women and men and, parallel to this, among particular age groups. Women are usually affected by cardiovascular disease at an older age than men, and as the prevalence of comorbidities (like diabetes or chronic pain syndromes) grows with age, women suffer from a higher number of symptoms (such as pain and breathlessness) than men. Women live longer, and after a husband or partner's death, they suffer from a stronger sense of loneliness, are more dependent on institutionalized care and have more unaddressed needs than men. Heart failure (HF) is a common end-stage pathway of many cardiovascular diseases and causes substantial symptom burden and suffering despite optimal cardiologic treatment. Modern, personalized medicine makes every effort, including close cooperation between disciplines, to alleviate them as efficiently as possible. Palliative Care (PC) interventions include symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual support. In complex situations they are provided by a specialized multiprofessional team, but usually the application of PC principles by the healthcare team responsible for the person is sufficient. PC should be involved in usual care to improve the quality of life of patients and their relatives as soon as appropriate needs emerge. Even at less advanced stages of disease, PC is an additional layer of support added to disease modifying management, not only at the end-of-life. The relatively scarce data suggest sex-specific differences in symptom pathophysiology, distribution and the requisite management needed for their successful alleviation. This paper summarizes the sex-related differences in PC needs and in the wide range of interventions (from medical treatment to spiritual support) that can be considered to optimally address them.

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The Psychological and Spiritual Dimensions of Palliative Care: A Descriptive Systematic Review

Cited by 24 publications

References 78 publications

Knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy towards palliative care among nurses in Mongolia: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy towards palliative care among nurses in Mongolia: A cross-sectional descriptive study

The influence of spirituality on decision-making in palliative care outpatients: a cross-sectional study

Palliative Care for People Living With Heart Disease—Does Sex Make a Difference?

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