Spiritual Support Research Articles

Anxiety in Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To analyse the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of anxiety in nursing students and the factors involved. A systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science. Nursing students are at an increased risk of developing mental overload, due to the presence of many sources of stress during their academic training. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of the general population, especially on healthcare workers and consequently on students undertaking placements in healthcare settings. A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science databases. A total of 24 articles were included in the review, and 20 articles were selected for the meta-analysis. We found that the anxiety scores of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic were slightly higher (50%) than before the pandemic. The most influential risk factors for developing anxiety were academics, age, gender, having children, living in urban areas or with family, having an addiction to social networks, and having a fear of becoming infected with COVID-19. Resilience, spiritual support and feelings of happiness protected students against the risk of developing high levels of anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased levels of anxiety in nursing students. Thirty-five percent of the meta-analytically analysed sample had elevated levels of anxiety.

Collaboration, coordination and communication as facilitators of transitions for patients with advanced cancer: a scoping review linked to the Pal-Cycles project

BackgroundPerson-centred care is becoming increasingly recognised as an important element of palliative care. The current review syntheses evidence in relation to transitions in advanced cancer patients with palliative care needs. The review focuses on specific elements which will inform the Pal-Cycles programme, for patients with advanced cancer transitioning from hospital care to community care. Elements of transitional models for cancer patients may include, identification of palliative care needs, compassionate communication with the patient and family members, collaborative effort to establish a multi-dimensional treatment plan, review and evaluation of the treatment plan and identification of the end of life phase.MethodsA scoping review of four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO) was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies published from January 2013 to October, 2022. A further hand-search of references to locate additional relevant studies was also undertaken. Inclusion criteria involved cancer patients transitions of care with a minimum of two of components from those listed above. Studies were excluded if they were literature reviews, if transition of care was related to cancer survivors, involved non-cancer patients, had paediatric population, if the transition implied a change of therapy and or a lack of physical transit to a non-hospital place of care. This review was guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and narrative synthesis was used.ResultsOut of 5695 records found, 14 records were selected. Transition models identified: increases in palliative care consultations, hospice referrals, reduction in readmission rates and the ability to provide end of life care at home. Transition models highlight emotional and spiritual support for patients and families. No uniform model of transition was apparent, this depends on the healthcare system where it is implemented.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the importance of collaboration, coordination and communication as central mechanisms for transitional model for patients with advanced cancer. This may require careful planning and will need to be tailored to the contexts of each healthcare system.

Impact of Spiritual Support Interventions on the Quality of Life of Patients Who Receive Palliative Care: A Systematic Review.

Palliative care focuses on the prevention of worsening health, improving the quality of the patient's life, and the relief of suffering, and therefore has a considerable impact on both the patient suffering from a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening illness and on their family. Spirituality, as the dimension of human life involving the search for meaning, purpose, and transcendence, and connection with oneself, others, and the sacred, could be essential in supporting these patients. The aim of this study was to synthesise the scientific evidence describing the interventions and/or activities undertaken to meet the spiritual needs of the palliative patient. A literature search was carried out across the following databases: PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, and Web of Science. The PRISMA statement was used to guide this review. Twenty-four articles were included. The thematic categories included spiritual needs at the end of life, the influence of music and dance as palliative care, care for family caregivers, and the comparison between counselling and dignity therapy. Interventions in the biopsychosocial-spiritual spheres impact on the patient's peace of mind and promote the acceptance of a "good death". Healthcare personnel play an essential role in the way their patients prepare for the moment of death, and the meaning and values they convey help them to accompany and welcome patients. Last but not least, universities can play a crucial role by training nurses to integrate spiritual interventions such as music and dance, or by considering the family as a unit of care. The systematic review protocol was registered in the Prospective International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under protocol number CRD42023490852.

Roles of Chaplains and Clergy in Spiritual Care for African Americans in Hospice: A Pilot Study.

Spiritual care is recognition of patient and caregiver spiritual/religious needs and attention to those needs. Caregivers of African American hospice patients are more likely to report worse emotional/religious support. Yet, spiritual care delivery and roles of community clergy and chaplains for African American hospice patients are not well understood. Examine who provides spiritual care to African American hospice patients and caregivers. Partnering with large, urban/suburban community hospice, we interviewed caregivers of deceased African American hospice patients (n = 12), their clergy (n = 3) and chaplains (n = 5). Using a phenomenological qualitative study design, we coded transcripts and deceased patient chart data and conducted thematic analysis to identify themes. Community clergy and chaplains tend to not interact and provide different aspects of emotional, religious and spiritual support to hospice patients and families. Clergy and chaplains agreed that rapport and openness of the patient were main factors in meeting spiritual care needs. Clergy provided interaction with a trusted person and connection to church, congregational support, religious beliefs/theology, and practices. Chaplains focused on present needs and issues of death and dying. Clergy and chaplains have distinct, complementary roles in providing spiritual care to African American hospice patients and families. Both are needed to provide desired spiritual care for African American hospice patients and their caregivers. Robust spiritual care programs need to ensure chaplains have sufficient time to spend with patients and families and incorporate collaboration, handoffs and integrated processes for clergy and chaplains. Research is needed on effectively including clergy in hospice spiritual care delivery.

Hubungan Dukungan Spiritual dengan Tingkat Kecemasan pada Penderita Diabetes Mellitus Tipe 2

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease in which glucose levels in the blood are high because the body cannot use enough insulin. Diabetes mellitus has increased significantly both at the world and regional levels. The high incidence of DM has an impact on physical and psychological problems in DM sufferers. One of them is the impact of DM complications and anxiety. Spiritual support is a belief in a relationship with the Almighty, the Almighty Creator and spiritual support can influence the adaptive coping of someone who experiences psychological problems, one of which is anxiety. This study aims to analyze the relationship between spiritual support and anxiety levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This research design uses a cross-sectional approach. The number of samples in this study was 71 respondents with data collection techniques using purposive sampling. The statistical test used is the Spearman rank test. The results of the research show that there is a relationship between spiritual support and the level of anxiety in type 2 diabetes mellitus sufferers at the Tlogosari Wetan Community Health Center in 2024 with a significant p value = 0.001 and a correlation coefficient r value (– 0.402). It was concluded that the strength of the relationship between spiritual support and the level of anxiety is a moderate relationship, namely in the range 0.40 - 0.599 with a negative correlation direction, which means that the higher the spiritual support, the lower the level of anxiety.

Assessment Norms Development of the Subjective Work Environment Battery “B-SWE” for Chilean Organizations

The objective of this research was to generate evaluation norms for the scores of the Subjective Work Environment Battery "B-SWE" from a base of 1,413 valid response protocols of workers belonging to 11 complex organizations in the central-south region of Chile. The B-SWE seeks to identify and analyze the subjective factors of work climate, understood as the result of the interrelation of the dimensions of organizational climate and culture, professional burnout, psychosomatic symptomatology, and coping strategies in specific socio-occupational contexts, which reflect the human dimension of the productive processes of an organization. Scales were obtained according to administrative dependency (public or private) and gender. The B-SWE comprises 136 Likert-type items with a five-option scaling, presenting adequate evidence of internal structure in the Chilean context. The results showed the existence of "differentiating dimensions" according to gender and dependency of the organizations, from which centile norms are constructed for the raw scores of the 15 dimensions of the B-SWE. Once the norms were obtained, differentiated and specific interpretations were presented for each dimension. In conclusion, the workers in public organizations showed higher levels of Organizational Trust, Job Satisfaction, Reflective Action, and Personal Fulfillment. In contrast, female workers presented higher levels of Affective Seeking, Spiritual Support, and Psychosomatic Symptoms and lower levels of Affective Hardening.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About End-of-Life Doulas.

Palliative care has made great strides in improving the lives of people living with serious illness, with an empirical premise for increasing quality, and sometimes quantity of life. Yet in some cases, there exist gaps that impede the ability of palliative care clinicians to truly advocate, procure, and provide the comprehensive services needed for patients, family caregivers, and communities, particularly in the contexts of caring for marginalized populations and working in under-resourced practice settings. The end-of-life doula role has emerged over the last decade and the availability of trained doulas in the community has burgeoned. An end-of-life doula is a nonmedical, holistic support person who provides education, guidance, emotional, spiritual, and practical support to persons and families navigating serious and terminal illness, ideally early in the disease process, throughout the time surrounding death, and during bereavement. A pervasive Western culture of avoiding the subject of death means that we, as a society, often do not know or remember how to navigate the journey of end of life in a way that is caring, compassionate, skilled, holistic, and centered on the needs and worldview of the dying one. The ten tips provided here can guide palliative care clinicians to leverage collaboration with trusted, community-based end-of-life doulas to ensure comprehensive and people-centered palliative care.

Homecare amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A multidisciplinary, home-based model of care for patients with ALS and their caregivers.

Multidisciplinary care for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is recommended in international guidelines, but reaches its limits when immobility increases. This pilot project addresses this gap by delivering home-based, specialized, multiprofessional support to ALS patients who are not able to attend outpatient care. The study assessed the feasibility of this model of care and the satisfaction of both patients and caregivers. This was a longitudinal cohort study of patients with ALS and their caregivers in the surroundings of Munich, Germany. Patients were regularly visited at home by a multiprofessional team (neurologists/palliative care physicians, nurse, social worker, chaplain). A total of 94 patients with ALS were included in the homecare project and 88 patients and 74 caregivers were enrolled in the accompanying study. The mean care duration was 221 days, enabling 61% of the 49 deceased patients to die at home. Notably, 20% of patients chose a way to hasten death. Patient satisfaction (ICECAP Supportive Care Measure [SCM]: 23.7/28, CollaboRATE: 10.6/12) and caregiver perception of the end-of-life phase (Caregiver Evaluation of the Quality of End-Of-Life Care [CEQUEL]: 24.9/26) were high. This pilot project successfully implemented specialized, home-based multidisciplinary care for ALS patients and caregivers, demonstrating both feasibility and high satisfaction. The program enabled a large proportion of patients to remain in their homes, reducing the need for hospital care. The multiprofessional approach, including neuropalliative, psychosocial and spiritual support provided comprehensive care that addressed needs of patients and caregivers. Further research is warranted to explore cost-effectiveness.

The Great Flood: Race-Moderated Associations between Social Work Students’ Protective Mechanisms and Adaptive Coping

Abstract The postdisaster experiences of 167 social work students in the aftermath of the Great Flood of 2016 were examined. Using a cross-sectional survey design and validated self-report measures, the current study examined the association between students’ protective factors (hope, altruism, spiritual support; at 8, 20, and 12 items, respectively) and six adaptive coping mechanisms, and further sought to determine whether such associations varied according to students’ race (white vs. African American). Six hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted using each of the adaptive coping strategies (acceptance, active coping, positive reframing, self-distraction, planning, and venting). Results showed that students’ race moderated the associations between altruism and active coping, spiritual support and active coping, spiritual support and self-distraction, altruism and planning, spiritual support and planning, and altruism and venting. The decomposition of the significant interactions indicated that the effect of altruism on active coping, planning, and venting was greater among white than among African American participants; the effect of spiritual support on active coping, self-distraction, and planning was greater among African American than among white participants. Recommendations include educating all students about risks incurred when working with traumatized populations. Research examining postdisaster coping responses of social workers can inform culturally responsive supervision approaches.

Depression in nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

The pandemic meant a change in academic approach. This had an impact on the mental health of students, leading to, among other problems, depressive disorders. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence and factors that favoured the development of depression in nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic review with meta-analysis of prevalence was conducted in October 2023, using Pubmed, CINAHL and Scopus as the data sources used for the search. This review followed the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Search equation was: "(undergraduate nurses OR nursing students) AND depression AND (COVID-19 OR Sars-CoV-2)". The final set of articles was N = 12. Quantitative primary studies using anonymous scales and surveys to assess the prevalence of depression in nursing students in the last 3 years were included. Studies show a high prevalence of depression among young university students with figures above 50%. The total sample of students in the meta-analysis was n = 4,479 with a prevalence value of 32% (CI95% 22%-42%). Affected students are characterised by young, female students. Concerns included generalised academic uncertainty, social isolation, work overload, fear of contagion and concern about teaching delivery. Coping mechanisms were generally resilience, spiritual support, laughter therapy, seeking information about COVID-19 and eating food. In conclusion, students, especially female students, are at high risk of depression due to social isolation. In addition, coping techniques were inadequate and future strategies to prevent this situation should be considered.

A Directed Content Analysis: What are the spiritual needs for Muslim patients’ ongoing haemodialysis treatment?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) significantly impacts patients' mental health, with dialysis often leading to psychological distress and depression. This qualitative study explored the spiritual needs of Muslim patients undergoing hemodialysis, utilizing semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Findings highlight the importance of religious rituals, practices, and spiritual support from healthcare professionals, family, and community in providing solace and optimism during medical treatment. The study emphasizes the significance of addressing spiritual needs in patient care to enhance health outcomes and quality of life for Muslim patients with CKD. This research contributes to the growing field of spirituality in healthcare.

Coping strategies adapted by parents caring for children with cancer: a qualitative exploratory study in Ghana

BackgroundCaring for children with cancer by parents in Ghana is associated with diverse psychological and emotional burdens. However, such parents utilize coping strategies to adjust to their distressing situations. There is dearth of literature on the coping strategies of parents of children diagnosed with cancer in Ghana. Therefore, this study sought to explore the coping strategies adapted by parents of children with cancer.MethodsA qualitative exploratory descriptive design was employed to conduct the study. Purposive sampling method was used to recruit seventeen parents of children with cancer. Semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct in-depth data collection. Data was analysed using content analysis approach.Results and discussionParents reported that emotional and spiritual support enhanced parental coping to the ordeal associated with caring for children with cancer. The parents shared that counselling, self-motivation and inspiration from family and health professionals immensely assisted them to cope. Spiritual support through personal belief in God, religious activities and support from their priests and church members were other strategies parents employed to cope with the traumatising experience associated with caring for children with cancer.ConclusionThis study concludes that parents of children with cancer are better able to cope with the distress encountered in their children’s care journey through emotional and spiritual support.

Communicating Workplace Spirituality

Workplace spirituality has been the focus of many studies, which underline its importance for organizations and employees. While most larger employers have embraced inclusion strategies that recognize and support neurodiversity, gender, race, ability, and other characteristics, spirituality appears to be excluded from the conversation, despite evidence of its benefits. This study explores the question, “how are large Canadian employers signalling a commitment to workplace spirituality to prospective employees?” Employing content analysis, the websites of 25 large Canadian organizations were examined to discover: (1) how they publicly communicate spirituality; (2) what can be inferred from this communication; and, (3) what first steps organizations can take to signal spirituality to prospective employees. The findings show few of these organizations publicly communicate spirituality, either explicitly or implicitly. We also examine the barriers and opportunities explicit declarations of spiritual support create in attracting and retaining talent.

The Spiritual Dimension of Parents’ Experiences Caring for a Seriously Ill Child: An Interview Study

BackgroundParents of children with life-threatening conditions may have to balance their personal, family, and professional lives in the anticipation of child loss and the demands of providing medical care for their child. The challenges these parents are confronted with may lead to specific care needs. In this paper we explore the spiritual dimension of caring for a child with a life-threatening condition from the parents perspective. MethodsWe held an exploratory qualitative study with in-depth interviews with parents of children (0–21) with life-threatening conditions. Interviews were transcribed and subsequently thematically analyzed. ResultsTwenty-four parents of 21 children participated in the interviews. The spiritual dimension is an important, although not always visible, aspect of the experience of parents dealing with their child's illness. The main domains with regard to spirituality were: 1) identity; 2) parenthood; 3) connectedness; 4) loss or adjustment of goals; 5) agency; 6) navigating beliefs and uncertainties; and 7) decision-making. Parents also reflected on their spiritual care needs. ConclusionThe spiritual dimension plays a central role in the experiences of parents who care for children with life-threatening conditions, but they receive little support in this dimension, and care needs often go unnoticed. If we want to provide high-quality pediatric palliative care including adequate spiritual support for parents, we should focus on the wide range of their spiritual experiences, and provide support that focuses both on loss of meaning as well as on where parents find growth, joy or meaning.

Factors Influencing the Design of Labor Rooms

To examine the environmental aspects in labor and delivery rooms (LDRs) in Saudi Arabia according to mothers’ points of view, especially with the recent increased numbers of C-section deliveries. The study is based on a survey questionnaire, open-ended questions analysis and comparison between the findings in two samples. Mothers who experienced labor and delivery in Saudi hospitals during the last 5 years participated in the study. The questionnaire was distributed via email and text messages to participating mothers, and 236 questionnaires were completed by participants. Based on analysis of the qualitative data, several factors were highlighted including Psychological aspects (39.74%), Caregiver attitude (15.89%), Space Layout and Furniture arrangement (12.58%). Importantly, from the quantitative analysis, the study finds that during COVID-19, compared to Pre-COVID-19 period there was an increase in mothers’ perceptions of the importance of the labor environment. The needs of mothers in Saudi were similar to those in the UK sample, except for these aspects that were important to Saudi women but not to those in the UK: spiritual support, psychological support, and policies. Therefore, designing labor and delivery settings should consider these cultural differences.

Grief and bereavement support amidst palliative care in the paediatric intensive care unit

ABSTRACT In paediatric intensive care units (PICUs), advanced medical care meets deeply emotional human experiences. This review examines grief and bereavement support in PICUs, emphasising its significance in extending palliative care beyond end-of-life scenarios. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar from 2014 to 2023 yielded 50 relevant studies. The findings illustrate the unique challenges in PICUs, such as children’s limited communication abilities, parental distress and emotional burden on healthcare providers. Our review revealed the multifaceted nature of grief in PICUs, including anticipatory and complicated grief, and its profound impact on families and siblings of PICU patients. We identified diverse emotional, psychological, cultural and spiritual support needs that underscored the importance of continuous bereavement care and access to resources. Current support practices, including counselling, support groups, memorial services and interdisciplinary teamwork, are explored. Challenges such as resource limitations, healthcare providers’ emotional toll and communication barriers are discussed. The study also highlights emerging trends such as digital tools, innovative therapies and policy changes to enhance holistic, family-centred care in PICUs.

Forgiveness and Emotional Well-Being: A Study of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

This study investigates the relationship between forgiveness and subjective well-being among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Using a quantitative correlational approach, the research aims to determine whether forgiveness significantly impacts the subjective well-being of these parents. The study involved 43 participants from SLBN 1 Palangka Raya, who completed questionnaires measuring forgiveness (Heartland Forgiveness Scale) and subjective well-being (SAPAN and SWLS scales). Descriptive statistics revealed high levels of forgiveness and subjective well-being among participants. However, Pearson correlation analysis indicated no significant relationship between the two variables. This suggests that while parents exhibit high forgiveness, it does not necessarily translate to increased life satisfaction or emotional balance. Subjective well-being is influenced by multiple factors, including gratitude, personality, self-esteem, spirituality, and social support. The study highlights the need for further research to explore these additional factors and address limitations such as incomplete samples and participant confusion during data collection. These insights are crucial for supporting the psychological well-being of parents with children who have special needs.

IMPLEMENTASI BIMBINGAN KEAGAMAAN BAGI NARAPIDANA BERAGAMA ALIRAN KEPERCAYAAN TRIDHARMA

The observance of religious practices for inmates adhering to the Tridharma faith in Bagansiapiapi City based on Law No. 6 of 2013 has not been properly implemented, as the facilities for religious practices of other faiths are not equal to those already existing. The purpose of this research is to analyze the implementation of religious guidance for inmates adhering to the Tridharma faith in Bagansiapiapi City based on Government Regulation Number 32 of 1999 on terms and procedures for the implementation of the rights of correctional inmates, and to analyze the obstacles and efforts to overcome these obstacles in the implementation of religious guidance for inmates adhering to the Tridharma faith in Bagansiapiapi City. The method used is sociological legal research. Based on the research results, it is known that the implementation of religious guidance for inmates adhering to the Tridharma faith in Bagansiapiapi City has not been fully realized, as some inmates have not fully received the necessary religious guidance. This results in some inmates not receiving the spiritual support they need. Government Regulation Number 32 of 1999 on terms and procedures for the implementation of the rights of correctional inmates emphasizes the importance of fulfilling the rights of inmates, including the right to receive religious guidance.

Resilient Reintegration Scale for Filipino Adolescents

This study developed the Resiliency Reintegration for Filipino Adolescents (RRS-FA) and proposed a framework for resilient reintegration. A mixed-methods approach was employed to develop the instrument. The qualitative design explored the construct of resilience through 16 resilient individuals. A quantitative phase was followed by conducting psychometric processes and field testing on 501 university students to establish the validity and reliability of the instrument. This resulted in a valid and reliable instrument, the 45-item RRS-FA. The Principal Component Analysis yielded four factors: 1) Positive Self-Esteem, 2) Emotional Stability, 3) Evidence of Growth, and 4) Resources, including Spirituality and Social Support. The findings emphasized the importance of accessing these “resources’’ of spirituality and social support in sustaining resilience among Filipino adolescents. Keywords: resilience, scale development, adversity, factors leading to resilient reintegration, counseling, risk factors

Nursing Home Star Ratings and End-Of-Life Care Quality: Lessons Learned From the Veterans Health Administration

ObjectivesMore than 25% of deaths among older adults occur in nursing homes. Thus, assessments of nursing home quality, including the widely used 5-star rating systems, should reflect quality of end-of-life (EOL) care. Our objective was to examine the associations between Veterans Affairs (VA) nursing home star ratings and quality of EOL care as measured by the VA's Bereaved Family Survey (BFS). DesignNational, retrospective observational study. Setting and ParticipantsVA nursing homes, known as Community Living Centers (CLCs). All veterans who died in a CLC from October 2018 to September 2019 whose next of kin completed a BFS. MethodsUsing linked VA data sources, we examined the BFS-Performance Measure (BFS-PM) (ie, the % of BFS respondents who provided an “excellent” overall rating) by the Overall Star Rating and domain star ratings (unannounced survey, staffing, and quality) for the 133 CLCs in our sample. Logistic and linear regression was used to examine the associations between CLC Overall Star Rating and individual-level BFS outcomes. Outcomes included the BFS-PM (primary), the 3 BFS factor scores of Respectful Care and Communication, Emotional and Spiritual Support, and Death Benefits, and 2 symptom management items. ResultsDifferences in the BFS-PM by CLC star rating were small to none and not statistically significant across all star rating domains. The relationship between a higher CLC Overall Star Rating and odds of an “excellent” BFS global rating was not statistically significant. Similarly, no significant associations were observed between a higher CLC Overall Star Rating and scores on the BFS factor scores and symptom management items. Conclusions and ImplicationsOur findings suggest that the current CLC star rating system is not sufficient to assess the quality of EOL care. BFS scores, or a comparative EOL quality of care measure, should be integrated into CLC quality rating systems.