Assessing a patient's spiritual needs: a comprehensive instrument.
Seven major constructs-belonging, meaning, hope, the sacred, morality, beauty, and acceptance of dying-were revealed in an analysis of the literature pertaining to patient spiritual needs. The authors embedded these constructs within a 29-item survey designed to be inclusive of traditional religion, as well as non-institutional-based spirituality. This article describes the development of a multidimensional instrument designed to assess a patient's spiritual needs. This framework for understanding a patient's spiritual needs hopefully contributes to the growing body of literature, providing direction to healthcare professionals interested in a more holistic approach to patient well-being.
Galek
Kathleen
K
The HealthCare Chaplaincy, 307 E. 60th St, New York, NY 10022, USA. kgalek@healthcarechaplaincy.org
Flannelly
Kevin J
KJ
Vane
Adam
A
Galek
Rose M
RM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001293:Attitude to Death; D004645:Empathy; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D029181:Spirituality; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*