Spiritual assessment across the cancer trajectory: methods and reflections.
OBJECTIVE
To provide information about spiritual assessment strategies and the spiritual stages through which persons with cancer pass.


METHODS
Books and articles (including research reports) from various disciplines including nursing, medicine, theology, and other health care professions: personal narratives and reflections of individuals with cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Sound spiritual assessment is prerequisite for sound spiritual intervention. Nurses must find the time, means, and knowledge to incorporate spiritual assessment into nursing care. Patients agree.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses can improve spiritual assessment by eliciting patient accounts of the evolving spiritual journey and prayers that parallel changes in health status.
Highfield
M F
MF
California State University, Northridge, USA.
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012069:Religion and Psychology