How family practice physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants incorporate spiritual care in practice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate how primary care family practice providers incorporate spirituality into their practices in spite of documented barriers.


METHODS
A phenomenological qualitative design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three physicians, five nurse practitioners, and two physician assistants.


CONCLUSIONS
Five major theme clusters emerged: (1) discerning instances for overt spiritual assessment; (2) displaying a genuine and caring attitude; (3) encouraging the use of existing spiritual practices; (4) documenting spiritual care for continuity of care; (5) managing perceived barriers to spiritual care.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support that patients' spiritual needs can be addressed in spite of documented barriers. Techniques to assist providers in providing spiritual care are discussed and directions for future research are suggested.
Tanyi
Ruth A
RA
Prevention & Wellness Services, Loma Linda, California 92354, USA. rtanyi@yahoo.com
McKenzie
Monica
M
Chapek
Cynthia
C
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004282:Documentation; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires