“If it’s the time, it’s the time”: Existential communication in naturally-occurring palliative care conversations with individuals with advanced cancer, their families, and clinicians

Addressing Religion in Secular Healthcare: Existential Communication and the Post-Secular Negotiation

“…The non-secular as a concept that includes all diverse approaches to the existential dimensions in life is in correspondence with current research (Andersen et al 2021;Pedersen et al 2018;Schnell 2011;Tarbi et al 2021). This inclusiveness implies that religion may be less difficult to address as it becomes an aspect of the non-secular.…”

“…On the one hand, healthcare professionals have become aware of the possible importance of spirituality and religion for patient health (Kørup et al 2021;Puchalski et al 2014;Sloan et al 1999), but, on the other, they find it difficult to incorporate religious coping, resources, needs, and distress into care and into doctor-patient communication in daily clinical interaction Brémault-Phillips et al 2015;Dillard et al 2021;Søberg et al 2018). Furthermore, research has shown that patients often want these aspects incorporated in their communication with healthcare professionals but also that the patients themselves find it difficult (Andersen et al 2021;Best et al 2015;Perrin et al 2021;Tarbi et al 2021).…”

Existential Care in Daily Nursing Practice

“…Patients describe that being seen by others as unique and valuable can minimize existential loneliness 33. Connecting with others (friends, families, care team members, forces beyond themselves)—seeking belonging when confronted with the fundamental isolation of serious illness—was a major theme of existential communication in patient encounters 34. Yet, these connections may be disrupted by illness and the deficit-framed biomedical paradigm.…”

“…The day-to-day changes of illness may illuminate existential needs and concerns. Research illustrates that existential care requires an expanded awareness of how the existential experience manifests in conversations, as well as the need to create moments of respite from the challenges of existence 34, 35, 38. Though we often think of existential discussions as profound, deliberate conversations regarding the meaning of life or fear of death, in reality the existential experience manifests often in everyday illness conversations 34.…”

“…Research illustrates that existential care requires an expanded awareness of how the existential experience manifests in conversations, as well as the need to create moments of respite from the challenges of existence 34, 35, 38. Though we often think of existential discussions as profound, deliberate conversations regarding the meaning of life or fear of death, in reality the existential experience manifests often in everyday illness conversations 34. Many people deal with fundamental existential questions by maintaining their usual idiosyncratic ways of living; daily routines provide understanding, connection with identity, and constructed meaning 42.…”