What is spiritual care? Professional perspectives on the concept of spiritual care identified through group concept mapping

Abstract

ObjectivesThe overall study aim was to synthesise understandings and experiences regarding the concept of spiritual care (SC). More specifically, to identify, organise and prioritise experiences with the way SC is conceived and practised by professionals in research and the clinic.DesignGroup concept mapping (GCM).SettingThe study was conducted within a university setting in Denmark.ParticipantsResearchers, students and clinicians working with SC on a daily basis in the clinic and/or through research participated in brainstorming (n=15), sorting (n=15), rating and validation (n=13).ResultsApplying GCM, ideas were identified, organised and prioritised online. A total of 192 unique ideas of SC were identified and organised into six clusters. The results were discussed and interpreted at a validation meeting. Based on input from the validation meeting a conceptual model was developed. The model highlights three overall themes: (1) ‘SC as an integral but overlooked aspect of healthcare’ containing the two clusters SC as a part of healthcare and perceived significance; (2) ‘delivering SC’ containing the three clusters quality in attitude and action, relationship and help and support, and finally (3) ‘the role of spirituality’ containing a single cluster.ConclusionBecause spirituality is predominantly seen as a fundamental aspect of each individual human being, particularly important during suffering, SC should be an integral aspect of healthcare, although it is challenging to handle. SC involves paying attention to patients’ values and beliefs, requires adequate skills and is realised in a relationship between healthcare professional and patient founded on trust and confidence.

Barriers to Provision of Spiritual Care in Mental Health Care Centers: A Qualitative Content Analysis

“…In line with this finding, Hvidit et al studied the identification, organization, and prioritization of SC experiences and perceptions in researchers, students, and clinical therapists. They found that an unclear definition of SC was a reason for the low implementation of this care (22). Likewise, Holmes found that ambiguity in the definitions of spirituality and religion and the multiplicity of SC provision models confused SC providers in the hospital from the perspectives of managers, policymakers, researchers, and professors (23).…”

The Process of Spiritual Care

“…To approach spiritual needs through daily interaction with the patient, underlines the need for spiritual care to be included in the curriculum, and the necessity of this has increasingly come into focus during the past decades. In an international context this also needs to be furthered by the concept "spirituality" to be continuously addressed and discussed in research, as the concept has so many different connotations and meanings, as an aspect of being human and as a concept in healthcare (Hvidt et al, 2020). "The Spiritual Assessment in Aging" from the United Kingdom (Nelson-Becker et al, 2007) was developed to both prepare and guide clinicians to undertake spiritual assessment through conversation, identifying 11 domains in spirituality through which a framework is assembled for spiritual assessment with older adults.…”

“…In our conceptualization of spiritual care, we focus on secular, spiritual and religious existential orientations, needs, and resources in connection with illness and crisis. This understanding is aimed at capturing the potential width of the individual patient in relation to the ontological grounding (la Cour and Hvidt, 2010;Nolan, 2011;Hvidt et al, 2020Hvidt et al, , 2021.…”

Translation and Validation of the Spanish Version of the Spiritual Care Competence Questionnaire (SCCQ)

“…Spiritual care might be defined as a “type of care that addresses and seeks to meet existential and spiritual needs and challenges in connection with illness and crisis” (Hvidt et al, 2020 , p. 2), and therefore, it is a shared responsibility of health care professionals to consider patients’ spiritual needs, resources and challenges (Frick, 2017 ). Spiritual care is increasingly recognized as being capable of making a positive contribution to both mental and physical health (Koenig, 2002 ).…”