In the Shadow of Death: Existential and Spiritual Concerns among Persons Receiving Palliative Care

Abstract

This study explores existential and spiritual concerns from the perspective of people receiving palliative care. It examines the meaning of these concerns, their influence on people's lives and investigates the connections between them. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with ten persons. Findings reveal existential and spiritual aspects as interconnected and an integral part of the participants' everyday existence. It concludes with a call for a better understanding of these phenomena in the palliative care context.

Spiritual well-being and quality of life among Icelanders receiving palliative care: data from Icelandic pilot-testing of a provisional measure of spiritual well-being from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer

“…This study formed part of a larger study on spirituality among persons receiving palliative care in Iceland, which used a mixed methods approach (Asgeirsdottir et al . , ). The qualitative part of this larger study revealed six main spiritual themes in which faith and spiritual practices especially prayer, were important elements of how persons perceived their spirituality.…”

“…The results from the SWB measure also represent issues that were found important in the qualitative part of the larger study on spirituality in Iceland and thereby gives the SWB measure face validity (Asgeirsdottir et al . , ). Furthermore, the findings indicate that the EORTC QLQ‐SWB can be used to assess SWB among persons receiving palliative care for cancer and possibly also as an intervention tool for addressing the complex realm of spiritual concerns and needs.…”

“…These findings support the understanding of spirituality as a multidimensional construct, with both religious and non‐religious elements (Asgeirsdottir et al . , ).…”

Faith And Spirituality – Palliative Cares And Life Quality For Cancer Patients: Information Archeology With Statistics Table As From A Systematic Review

“…The search identified, among the 67 studies in this review that, 77,6% of them see the life quality categories a driving force for the palliative treatment followed by the spirituality category at 70,14%. The spiritual intervention resulted in a significant increase of hope, happiness and life satisfaction (P <0,05) [17]. The spirituality is one of the main aspects of palliative care.…”

“…The spiritual intervention resulted in a significant increase of hope, happiness and life satisfaction (P <0,05) [17]. The spirituality is one of the main aspects of palliative care.…”