1970 How can health care professionals understand and incorporate spirituality into Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment?

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Little is known about how Health Care Professionals (HCPs) conducting Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) assess spiritual needs. The aim of this study was to better understand how UK HCPs understand and incorporate assessment of spirituality into CGA for community dwelling frail older people. Methods Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with HCPs who regularly undertake CGA in the community as well as Anna Chaplains (ACs) whose remit is to provide chaplaincy to community dwelling older people. An inductive approach was taken using a topic guide to structure the interviews. Thematic analysis was undertaken using NVIVO. Ethics approval was granted through St Augustine’s College of Theology. Results Three HCPs and two ACs were interviewed. Three themes emerged. Firstly, that spiritual assessment needs time, trust and skill and cannot be established using checklists. Assessment hinges on building a rapport between the patient and HCP. HCPs and ACs suggested potential questions that could support assessment of spiritual needs. Secondly, supporting spirituality is focused on sustaining identity, fostering hope and encouraging spiritual growth. Finally, health care professionals lacked confidence and understanding in how to recognise and meet spiritual needs. Several suggestions were made as to how to address this. Conclusions All participants agreed that incorporating assessment of spirituality into CGA was important but that doing so effectively requires understanding and skill. The questions suggested by participants mapped well onto existing models of spirituality in ageing and frailty. Study findings could be used to develop training for HCPs undertaking CGA.