title: [Spiritual care].
abstract: The essence of spirituality and spiritual care is too complex for clear definition. Topics of personal religious belief about life and death, an understanding or sensing of the process of dying, and the various means of influencing a patient's s body and mind may all be implied by the term "spiritual care". All care involving the patient's s thoughts or emotions tends to be put in the same basket, without any distinction between psychic needs, spiritual nature and religious belief. Spirituality connotes a person's s wholeness (body, mind and soul). Spirituality not only affects the individuals psychosocial activities, but also his or her physical condition and behavior. So, what is the scope of spiritual care? Does it include physical and psychological elements? Using clinical examples, the author seeks to clarify the role of spirituality in the process of adapting to a disease, and to expound a definition and goals of spiritual care. In addition, human spiritual needs and the elements of spiritual care are also outlined. It is hoped that this article will be helpful to nurses in their spiritual growth and to those who practice holistic care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Palliative and Hospice Care, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC. mstu@isca.vghks.gov.tw
authors.forename: Ming-Shium
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tu
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D029181:Spirituality