Writing it in: the role of social workers in responding to unmet spiritual need in hospital settings

Abstract

ABSTRACT Complex care patients who spend extended time in hospital often have unmet spiritual care needs, including exploring questions of meaning and purpose, and benefiting from deep, humanizing connections. This study explored how social workers and Allied Health professionals identify and respond to the unmet spiritual care needs of these patients. It highlights the opportunities and limitations of providing spiritually-focused care within the managerial approaches that are dominant in hospital settings and provides recommendations including increased recognition of patients’ spiritual care needs and training for the workers who journey with them.