The possibilities and challenges in providing pediatric spiritual care

Alvarenga, Willyane de Andrade; Carvalho, Emı́lia Campos de; Caldeira, Sílvia; Nascimento, Lucila Castanheira

doi:10.1177/1367493517737183

Cited by 19 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(81 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Children with cancer and their families benefit from interdisciplinary health care that includes spiritual or existential care domains . Spiritual care involves the exploration of illness, suffering, anticipatory grief, chronic and terminal conditions, and losses as well as the search for justice, purpose, hope, resiliency, relationships, meaning, and life legacy . The longitudinal scope of existential care may help alleviate spiritual suffering and distress for children with cancer and their families and may lead to postures of empowerment, growth, and resiliency …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spiritual assessment and spiritual care offerings as a standard of care in pediatric oncology: A recommendation informed by a systematic review of the literature

Robert

Stavinoha

Jones

et al. 2019

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Children with cancer and their families experience shifts in spiritual wellness from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship or bereavement. An interdisciplinary team conducted a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research on spiritual assessments, interventions, and outcomes in childhood cancer following PRISMA guidelines using a PROSPERO registered protocol. Thirty‐nine well‐designed studies were included in the final analysis. The findings from this systematic review indicate the need for early spiritual assessment with offering of continued support for the spiritual functioning of children with cancer and their families as a standard of care.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spiritual assessment and spiritual care offerings as a standard of care in pediatric oncology: A recommendation informed by a systematic review of the literature

Robert

Stavinoha

Jones

et al. 2019

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Healthcare professionals, as members of a healthcare team, must be qualified to identify and provide spiritual care to hospitalized children and their families (Cooper et al, 2020;Damsma Bakker et al, 2018). By being aware of the religious and spiritual practices, life experiences and beliefs of their patients, nurses can help in coping with the disease (Alvarenga, Carvalho, Caldeira, Vieira, & Nascimento, 2017) and, thus, provide comprehensive care (Blinded for peer review). A deeper understanding of spirituality and spiritual needs as experienced by patients is critical in implementing spiritual care.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spiritual Needs of Brazilian Children and Adolescents with Chronic Illnesses: A Thematic Analysis

Alvarenga

Machado

Leite

et al. 2021

Journal of Pediatric Nursing

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To identify the spiritual needs of children and adolescents with chronic illnesses and how these needs are met by health professionals during hospitalization. Design and methods: A qualitative descriptive study was developed with 35 children and adolescents, between 7 and 18 years old, diagnosed with cancer, cystic fibrosis, and type 1 diabetes. Interviews with photo-elicitation were conducted during the hospitalization at a Brazilian public pediatric hospital. Findings were treated using thematic analysis, and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was followed for quality reporting. This research was approved by a research committee. Results: Two themes emerged. The first, entitled 'Spiritual needs', encompasses five types of needs: (1) need to integrate meaning and purpose in life; (2) need to sustain hope; (3) need for expression of faith and to follow religious practices; (4) need for comfort at the end of life; and (5) need to connect with family and friends. The second theme was the 'Definition of spiritual care'. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with chronic illnesses have spiritual needs while in hospital. Meeting these needs is essential for finding meaning, purpose and hope in the experience of living with chronic illnesses and at the end of life, based on their faith, beliefs and interpersonal relationships. But, these needs have not been fully addressed during hospitalization. Practice implications: These results emphasize the need to implement spiritual care when caring for hospitalized pediatric patients, which includes addressing spiritual needs.

show abstract

“…Although nurses recognize the importance of offering comprehensive care to patients, they report difficulty in addressing spiritual issues with pediatric patients and in perceiving expressions related to spirituality (Nascimento et al, 2016). As a result, the opportunity to diagnose spiritual suffering and to promote comprehensive care is lost if the spiritual needs of the pediatric patient are disregarded (Alvarenga et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to Talk to Children and Adolescents With Cancer About Spirituality? Establishing a Conversation Model

Alvarenga

Leite

Menochelli

et al. 2020

J Pediatr Oncol Nurs

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Talking to children and adolescents with cancer about spirituality is a challenge. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a conversation model for a spiritual approach with children and adolescents with cancer. It was a methodological study with a systematic approach in three stages: (a) review of the literature for the selection of photographs and guiding questions, (b) using an expert committee to evaluate photographs and preselected questions, and (c) cognitive interview with children and adolescents to test the methodology. The expert committee evaluated and selected 20 photos and their respective guiding questions. Fifteen children and adolescents hospitalized with cancer tested the spirituality conversation model and expressed feelings, values, beliefs, fears, and the meaning they give to life and illness. The implementation of the conversation model can contribute both to the clinical practice, facilitating care for the spiritual dimension of pediatric patients, and to qualitative research on spirituality involving children.

show abstract

The possibilities and challenges in providing pediatric spiritual care

Cited by 19 publications

References 36 publications

Spiritual assessment and spiritual care offerings as a standard of care in pediatric oncology: A recommendation informed by a systematic review of the literature

Spiritual assessment and spiritual care offerings as a standard of care in pediatric oncology: A recommendation informed by a systematic review of the literature

Spiritual Needs of Brazilian Children and Adolescents with Chronic Illnesses: A Thematic Analysis

How to Talk to Children and Adolescents With Cancer About Spirituality? Establishing a Conversation Model

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About