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In the realm of palliative care, the well-being of patients is influenced not only by medical and scientific interventions but also by how effectively healthcare professionals address their spiritual needs. Despite the recognition of spirituality as a fundamental aspect of care by organizations like the World Health Organization and the German Charter for the Care of the Severely Ill and Dying, practical implementation remains inconsistent in hospital settings.
The Gap in Spiritual Care
Dr. Arndt Büssing, a professor of quality of life, spirituality, and coping at the University of Witten/Herdecke in Germany, highlighted this issue during a conference organized by Diakonie, a Protestant charitable organization. Büssing pointed out that doctors and nurses often lack the time, knowledge, or courage to engage with patients’ spiritual concerns. This gap is exacerbated by ambiguity over who should provide such care—be it pastors, psychologists, nurses, or doctors—and the intense workload that healthcare workers face.
A Step Towards Improvement: The SpECi Curriculum
To address these challenges, a specialized training program, “Spiritual/Existential Care Interprofessional” (SpECi), was developed by Diakonie and Caritas in 2020. The program aims to equip healthcare workers with the skills needed to meet the spiritual needs of seriously ill patients and their families. The SpECi curriculum comprises 10 modules covering topics like coping with loss and grief, finding spiritual resources, and performing helpful rituals.
In a study evaluating the program, 91 nurses from diaconal institutions received the training, impacting 774 patients and 356 relatives. The results were promising: 85% of participants reported addressing patients’ spiritual needs more frequently, and 87% expressed a desire for more time to discuss spiritual matters.
Challenges in Implementation
However, the success of such training is limited by broader systemic issues. Despite improved competencies in spiritual care, the training did not significantly affect the perceived workload or team satisfaction among healthcare workers. Büssing noted that emotional exhaustion and team dissatisfaction could undermine the benefits of the training, highlighting the need for systemic changes to support the well-being of healthcare teams.
Patient Perspectives
Patient feedback underscores the importance of addressing spiritual needs. A study of American cancer patients revealed that 72% felt their spiritual needs were minimally supported by the healthcare system. In Germany, 20% of outpatients with pain reported having no one to discuss their spiritual needs with, while 37% indicated a desire to talk to their doctors about these issues. However, doctors often refer such discussions to hospital chaplains due to time constraints and lack of training.
The Broader Implications
Büssing’s findings suggest that addressing spiritual needs is not optional but essential for patient dignity and quality of care. The desire for generativity—sharing life experiences and affirming one’s significance—remains strong among patients, comparable to the need for emotional peace and connections with nature.
For healthcare systems to truly support patients, spiritual care must be integrated into standard practices. This integration is about more than meeting patients’ expectations; it is about upholding their dignity and delivering holistic care. Healthcare providers must recognize that neglecting spiritual care undermines the comprehensive well-being of patients and fails to meet the high standards of care that the medical profession strives to uphold.
