Abstract
We aimed to validate the Spanish version of the Spiritual Care Competence Questionnaire (SCCQ) in a sample of 791 health care professionals from Spanish speaking countries coming principally from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Spain. Exploratory factor analysis pointed to six factors with good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.71 to 0.90), which are in line with the factors of the primary version of the SCCQ. Conversation competences and Perception of spiritual needs competences scored highest, and Documentation competences and Team spirit the lowest, Empowerment competences and Spiritual self-awareness competences in-between. The Spanish Version of the SCCQ can be used for assessment of spiritual care competencies, planning of educational activities and for comparisons as well as monitoring/follow-up after implementation of improvement strategies.
Highlights
Spirituality is defined as “a dynamic and intrinsic aspect of humanity through which persons seek ultimate meaning, purpose, and transcendence, and experience relationship to self, family, others, community, society, nature, and the significant or sacred” (Puchalski et al, 2014, p. 646)
Studies show that patients are interested in discussing spirituality in medical consultations (Best et al, 2015) and that several prefer to talk about their spiritual needs with their physicians rather than with a pastoral worker (Büssing et al, 2009), but they receive less spiritual care than desired (Fuchs et al, 2021; Kalish, 2012); a discrepancy exists in the perceptions between patients and doctors regarding what constitutes this discussion and whether it has taken place (Best et al, 2015, 2016)
We evaluated the quality of the model based on those fit statistics: root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), comparative fit index (CFI) and Tucker–Lewis index (TLI)
Summary
Spirituality is defined as “a dynamic and intrinsic aspect of humanity through which persons seek ultimate meaning, purpose, and transcendence, and experience relationship to self, family, others, community, society, nature, and the significant or sacred” (Puchalski et al, 2014, p. 646). Spirituality—understood in such a broad sense—is recognized as part of health care, being the core aim of health care to “eliminate, reduce the impact of, or manage the varied psychological, physical, social, and spiritual experiences of illness, for both the patient and their families and communities” 2), and it is a shared responsibility of health care professionals to consider patients’ spiritual needs, resources and challenges (Frick, 2017). Spiritual care is increasingly recognized as being capable of making a positive contribution to both mental and physical health (Koenig, 2002). Spiritual care enhances patients’ quality of life and coping with illness (Frick & Schießl, 2015; Gillilan et al, 2017). Studies show that patients are interested in discussing spirituality in medical consultations (Best et al, 2015) and that several prefer to talk about their spiritual needs with their physicians rather than with a pastoral worker (Büssing et al, 2009), but they receive less spiritual care than desired (Fuchs et al, 2021; Kalish, 2012); a discrepancy exists in the perceptions between patients and doctors regarding what constitutes this discussion and whether it has taken place (Best et al, 2015, 2016)
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