Spiritual Care Needs and Expectations in Outpatient Palliative Care

Abstract

Objectives 1. Recognize the spiritual needs of palliative care outpatients. 2. Identify the expectation for spiritual care among palliative care outpatients. I. Background. Spiritual and existential concerns may have a significant impact on quality of life among community-dwelling persons living with advanced illness. The spiritual care needs of palliative care outpatients are not well-characterized in the literature, yet are widely recognized as important components in developing a patient centered palliative care plan. To better guide the development of services needed to provide spiritual care to palliative care outpatients we undertook a qualitative study of the spiritual needs and expectations of a representative population. II. Research Objectives. We sought to understand the spiritual care needs and preferences among palliative care outpatients in the Southeastern United States. III. Methods. All study activities received IRB approval through UAB. Twenty individuals were recruited from among palliative care outpatients seen at the UAB Supportive and Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with volunteers by research personnel who were not involved in the clinical care of patients. Descriptive analyses were undertaken to describe the population, and frequencies, proportions, and means were generated for responses. Qualitative responses are reported verbatim. IV. Results. Seventeen participants (85%) identified themselves with an organized religion or spiritual organization, 2 participants (10%) did not. The majority (16, 80%) of participants felt that their physician should be aware of their spiritual beliefs and needs, but 3 individuals (15%) did not. Similarly, 16 participants (80%) felt the physician should take their spiritual beliefs into account in the development of a care plan, and 3 participants (15%) did not. Ten participants (50%) indicated that they felt it would be helpful for their palliative care provider to pray for them. All respondents (n 1⁄4 19, 95%, 1 missing) indicated that their spiritual beliefs helped them cope with their illness. V. Conclusion. The majority of participants in this assessment both affiliated themselves with an organized religion, and felt that it was important that their palliative care provider be aware of their spiritual beliefs and incorporate them in the development of a care plan. A minority of participants did not have an interest in formal spiritual care through palliative care. VI. Implications for Research, Policy, or Practice. Routine screening for spiritual needs is indicated in palliative care, and measures for the incorporation of the patients’ spiritual beliefs in a palliative care plan should be developed.