Spirituality of health workers: a descriptive study.
BACKGROUND
The World Health Organisation defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infermity". In May 1984 the spiritual dimension became part of WHO Member States' strategies for health. The WHO defines quality of life as "individuals' perceptions of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns."


OBJECTIVE
To test health workers' quality of life (QOL) with regard to their spirituality.


METHODS
The WHOQOL SRPB-domain 6 was used. It denotes an individual's perception of quality of life, as far as spirituality is concerned. The sample was formed by 116 health workers from three wards of three Rehabilitation Hospitals owned by the Brothers of Saint John of God, in Northern Italy.


RESULTS
The sample shows means above the mid-point in all facets denoting reasonably good quality of life in the domain of spirituality. The most significative variables are: health conditions (p = .001*), religiousness (p < or = .0005**), personal creed (p < or = .0005**).


CONCLUSIONS
The sample's quality of life in the domain of spirituality is reasonably good. Our findings suggest that spirituality is associated with the subjective perception of people's health status.
Boero
M E
ME
B.V.Consolata Rehabilitation Hospital Complex, Fatebenefratelli, Via Fatebenefratelli, 70, San Maurizio C.se, (TO), Italy. melenamar@tiscali.it
Caviglia
M L
ML
Monteverdi
R
R
Braida
V
V
Fabello
M
M
Zorzella
L M
LM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006694:Holistic Health; D016519:Hospitals, Religious; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012945:Social Values; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires