The impact of the hospice environment on patient spiritual expression.
OBJECTIVE
To understand how hospital inpatients express their spirituality and to investigate the impact of hospice environment on this expression.


METHODS
Qualitative.


METHODS
Two metropolitan hospice centers in southern Australia.


METHODS
12 inpatients (7 males, 5 females) who were residents for at least four days.


METHODS
Influenced by Heidegger's Phenomenological Hermeneutics, semistructured interviews were conducted. Interview transcripts and field notes were analyzed to reduce data into codes and themes. Data were coded by extracting verbatim phrases used to describe spiritual expression and the impact of hospice environment on it.


METHODS
The nature of spiritual expression and the impact of the hospice environment on the spiritual expression of hospice inpatients.


RESULTS
Participants were comfortable discussing their spiritual expression within the context of four main themes: Relationships, That Which Uplifts, Spiritual Practice, and Having Hope. Finding meaning was a common link among these themes. The impact of the hospice environment was variable. Most believed that it facilitated their spiritual expression to some degree.


CONCLUSIONS
Spiritual expression is important but is facilitated by individualized spiritual care. Nurses play an important role in the provision of spiritual care within a hospice setting.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses are significant in assisting in patients' spiritual expression. Nurses' needs for training in listening skills, confidence in discussing spiritual issues, and time to provide individualized spiritual care should be assessed to ensure optimal patient expression.
Tan
Heather M
HM
Department of General Practice, University of Adelaide, Australia. heather.tan@adelaide.edu.au
Braunack-Mayer
Annette
A
Beilby
Justin
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006738:Hospices / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality