Improving training in spiritual care: a qualitative study exploring patient perceptions of professional educational requirements

Abstract

Healthcare professionals express difficulties in delivering spiritual care, despite it being a core component of palliative care national policies. The patient perspective on professional training to address difficulties has not previously been sought. The aim of this study is to describe patient suggestions for development of training to deliver spiritual care. Qualitative semi-structured in-depth 'palliative patient' interviews (n = 20) were analysed thematically. Training suggestions encompassed practical care delivery. Patients supported staff who introduced questions about spiritual needs, and they expected opportunities to engage in spiritual care discussions. The 'right' attitude for spiritual care delivery was defined as being non-judgemental, providing integrated care and showing interest in individuals. Training issues included patient perspectives of boundaries between personal and professional roles. This study provides 'palliative patient' perspectives to strengthen recommended models of spiritual care delivery. It shows that user opinions on training can be helpful not only in deciding objectives but also how to achieve them.

Existential encounters: Nurses' descriptions of critical incidents in end-of-life cancer care

“…In religion there is a God and individuals who share the same beliefs, worshipful acts within some kind of social institution. Existentialism comprises the questions of life, the basic condition of being human, where freedom, existential isolation, meaning and death become central issues (Strang, 2006;Aldridge, 2000;Yalom, 1980) Patients expect healthcare staff to be comfortable discussing existential issues with them and that staff address these concerns sensitively (Yardley et al, 2009). In interviews with patients receiving palliative care and palliative healthcare staff about the optimal content of end-of-life discussions, existential issues were found to be important to both groups, although healthcare staff did not feel that it was their role to discuss such issues.…”

“…Symptom distress is complex and it is crucial that healthcare staff, when encountering dying patients, understands and recognize the most vulnerable persons (Chochinov et al, 2009). Many patients with cancer have a desire to share their existential concerns with healthcare professionals (Yardley et al, 2009), and professionals are aware of this need (Browall et al, 2010) but the question is whether they are able to identify specific opportunities to participate in conversations about patients' existential needs.…”

Training Intervention for Health Care Staff in the Provision of Existential Support to Patients With Cancer: A Randomized, Controlled Study

“…In a study that explored hospice patients' suggestions regarding professionals' spiritual training, it was found that patients expect that healthcare professionals feel comfortable when discussing existential issues with patients and address these concerns sensitively (5). Affirmative relationships enable patients to identify their inner resources.…”

A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study Examining the Effects of Spiritual Nursing Care Education Based in Biblical Truth on Pediatric Nurses' Competence in Providing Spiritual Nursing Care

“…Astrow et al (2007) observed that clients who reported their spiritual needs were not adequately addressed reported significantly lower levels of satisfaction with their medical care. Palliative care patients have stated that they would rather be offered spiritual care and be free to refuse it rather than it to not be offered at all (Yardley, Walshe & Parr 2009). In a study of parents of children who have died at a pediatric hospital, parents indicated that spiritual care is very important in the care of a dying child (Weidner, Cameron, Lee, McBride, & Mathias 2011).…”