Strategies to support spirituality in health care communication: a home hospice cancer caregiver case study.
BACKGROUND
Although there is growing recognition of the importance of integrating spirituality within health care, there is little evidence to guide clinicians in how to best communicate with patients and family about their spiritual or existential concerns.


METHODS
Using an audio-recorded home hospice nurse visit immediately following the death of a patient as a case-study, we identify spiritually-sensitive communication strategies.


RESULTS
The nurse incorporates spirituality in her support of the family by 1) creating space to allow for the expression of emotions and spiritual beliefs and 2) encouraging meaning-based coping, including emphasizing the caregivers' strengths and reframing negative experiences.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospice provides an excellent venue for modeling successful examples of spiritual communication. Health care professionals can learn these techniques to support patients and families in their own holistic practice.


CONCLUSIONS
All health care professionals benefit from proficiency in spiritual communication skills. Attention to spiritual concerns ultimately improves care.
University of Utah maija.reblin@nurs.utah.edu.
Maija
M
Reblin
City of Hope National Medical Center.
Shirley
S
Otis-Green
University of Utah.
Lee
L
Ellington
University of Utah.
Margaret F
MF
Clayton
D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006738:Hospices / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality
communication; hospice; spirituality; support; transdisciplinary education