Conceptualizing Spirituality in Occupational Therapy Practice: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Abstract Background: Spirituality is a key domain of occupational therapy practice, and for some individuals and communities, all occupations are viewed as spiritual. However, occupational therapists find conceptualizing spirituality and its meaning for both themselves and their patients challenging. The purpose of this concept analysis was to clarify the concept of spirituality and provide occupational therapists with guidance on how to integrate spirituality into practice. Objectives: This concept analysis was to clarify the concept of spirituality and how it has been articulated in studies. Study Design: A concept analysis approach, inspired by Walker and Avant, was used for a systematic review and selection of studies to be included. Methods: After selecting spirituality as a concept and having determined the aim of the analysis, the systematic selection of studies adopting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of seven articles was performed. Articles from 2005 to 2020 were considered as there was scarcity in this area of work; a long time frame was considered. The literature was found using research databases including CINAHL, Pub Med, OT Search, and SCOPUS. Results: Through the conceptual analysis of spirituality in occupational therapy, current concepts and themes of spirituality, occupational therapy assessments, and intervention in spirituality integration were identified. The empirical references highlight the application of addressing spiritual needs in occupational therapy practice. The key findings within each study were analyzed to identify the antecedents, defining attributes, and consequences of addressing spiritual needs in occupational therapy practice. Conclusion: The results led to a description of spirituality that could facilitate future research communication and common definition in occupational therapy practice.