Nursing interventions used in promoting spiritual health for patients with life threatening illnessess in hospital settings : a literature review

Abstract:

Spiritual health is one of the essential components of health, where patients search for meaning and purpose in life. Patients with life threatening illnesses experience distress, both physically and spiritually. There are studies which found that nurses did not regularly integrate spiritual care into their daily routine, due to lack of time and lack of education.

It is important to discover existing evidences of spiritual interventions which help the nurses promote spiritual health as regards to patients’ need in hospital settings.

The aim of this study was to describe nursing interventions applied in promoting spiritual health for patients with life threatening illnesses in hospital settings. A literature review of sixteen articles was carried out. Articles were retrieved from CINAHL and MEDLINE databases to answer the study’s objective. Eleven articles were retrieved from the databases and five articles were found using an ancestry search. A process of re-reading and finding the similar categories from articles was being used to develop themes in analyzing the data.

Results were categorized into three themes: person-centred communication, adapting a team approach, and modifying the physical environment. It was found that the nurses conducted a deeper level of communication which covered topics about patients’ wishes and hopes, and being there for patients as major interventions. The nurses also assessed patients’ spiritual needs prior to interventions, and were promoting patients and family belief and value in a respectful way. Family and referrals were also included in the intervention given by the palliative care team, moreover the nurses were providing privacy with regards to supporting a healing environment.

In conclusion acknowledgement of dying is essential in providing appropriate care. It is essential for the nurses to be prepared adequately through education, to conduct spiritual care interventions within a person-centred care approach. The information from this study may improve the quality of delivering spiritual care in hospital settings for patients with life threatening illnesses. Further recommendation for future research is to explore deeper about various spiritual nursing interventions from various cultures.