Perceptions and practices of spiritual care among hospice physicians and nurses in a Taiwanese tertiary hospital: A qualitative study
Journal
BMC Palliative Care
Journal Volume
19
Journal Issue
1
Pages
96
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Spiritual care is frequently cited as a key component of hospice care in Taiwanese healthcare and beyond. The aim of this research is to gauge physicians and nurses' self-reported perspectives and clinical practices on the roles of their professions in addressing spiritual care in an inpatient palliative care unit in a tertiary hospital with Buddhist origins. Methods: We performed semi-structured interviews with physicians and nurses working in hospice care over a year on their self-reported experiences in inpatient spiritual care. We utilized a directed approach to qualitative content analysis to identify themes emerging from interviews. Results: Most participants identified as neither spiritual nor religious. Themes in defining spiritual care, spiritual distress, and spiritual care challenges included understanding patient values and beliefs, fear of the afterlife and repercussions of poor family relationships, difficulties in communication, the patient's medical state, and a perceived lack of preparedness and time to deliver spiritual care. Conclusions: Our study suggests that Taiwanese physicians and nurses overall find spiritual care difficult to define in practice and base perceptions and practices of spiritual care largely on patient's emotional and physical needs. Spiritual care is also burdened logistically by difficulties in navigating family and cultural dynamics, such as speaking openly about death. More research on spiritual care in Taiwan is needed to define the appropriate training, practice, and associated challenges in provision of spiritual care. ? 2020 The Author(s).
Subjects
Asia; Cancer; Hospice; Oncology; Psychosocial care; Spirituality
Other Subjects
Article; Buddhism; clinical practice; controlled study; family relation; female; health status; hospice care; human; interpersonal communication; male; nurse attitude; patient attitude; physician attitude; qualitative research; religion; self report; semi structured interview; spiritual care; Taiwan; Taiwanese; tertiary care center; adult; alternative medicine; health care personnel; health personnel attitude; hospice; middle aged; organization and management; perception; procedures; psychology; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Female; Health Personnel; Hospices; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Perception; Qualitative Research; Spiritual Therapies; Taiwan; Tertiary Care Centers
Publisher
BioMed Central
Type
journal article