Abstract
Background and Objectives: The aim was to translate and validate the spiritual needs questionnaire for its use in the Lithuanian context. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was applied. Structural individual interview method (face-to-face) was employed to collect data on spiritual needs of cancer patients. Responses were obtained from 247 patients hospitalized in nursing and supportive treatment units at public hospitals. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics) version 22.0. To assess the psychometric properties of the scale, Cronbach’s alpha, split half test, average inter-item, and item-total correlations were calculated for internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis was used to confirm the construct validity of the translated version of instrument. Results: Lithuanian version of The Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (27 items) had a good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94). The existential and connectedness with family needs factor had the lowest Cronbach’s alpha (0.71) in relation to other factors: Religious needs (0.93), giving/generativity and forgiveness needs (0.88), and inner peace needs (0.74). Split-half test showed strong relationship between the both halves of the test. The item difficulty (1.47 (mean value)/3) was 0.49; while all values were in acceptable range from 0.20 to 0.80. Item-total correlations were inspected for the items in each of the four SpNQ-27 factors. Conclusions: The Lithuanian version of Spiritual needs questionnaire demonstrated adequate psychometric properties of the instrument. This instrument, as a screening tool and conversational model, is recommended for clinicians in health care practice to identify patients with spiritual needs.
Highlights
Spirituality in healthcare is gaining increasing attention as the care paradigm has moved from biomedical towards a holistic approach, which includes all dimensions and needs of patients and their family
For this paper we report on the translation and validation process of spiritual needs questionnaire (SpNQ) Lithuanian version that contains 27 items (SpNQ-27)
To assess the psychometric properties of the scale, Cronbach’s alpha, split half test, average inter-item, and item-total correlations were calculated for internal consistency
Summary
Spirituality in healthcare is gaining increasing attention as the care paradigm has moved (at least in theory) from biomedical towards a holistic approach, which includes all dimensions and needs of patients and their family. Medicina 2019, 55, 738 other hand—as part of a comprehensive healthcare concept—they should consider addressing patients’ unmet spiritual concerns through providing spiritual care on the basis of legislation, ethical codes, and on research evidence [1]. Despite this understanding, in clinical practice, clinicians caring for cancer patients are firstly focused on medical diagnosis and clinical nursing problems, by prescribing treatment and medications—and often fail to address patients’ spiritual needs and/or identify signs of spiritual distress [2]. Structural individual interview method (face-to-face) was employed to collect data on spiritual needs of cancer patients.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
