This website is intended for healthcare professionals

Abstract

The potential of spirituality to contribute to improving the quality of life of those experiencing life-threatening illness is yet to be fully realised in most palliative care settings. This may be due to many health professionals relegating spiritual issues to the background of palliative care instead of regarding spirituality as a domain equal to the physical, social, and psychological domains. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate, by reviewing the literature and providing examples from the author's personal experience as a chaplain, why spirituality should be considered on an equal footing with other key themes in palliative care, like relieving pain and advance care planning. It is hoped that this will create more self-awareness and generate greater discussion about the subject.

References

  • Baldwin (2011) Attributes of palliative care. In: Baldwin M,Woodhouse J. Eds, Key Concepts in Palliative Care. Sage Publications Ltd, London: 8 CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • Beard B (2011) Legal and ethical issues in palliative care. In: Baldwin M,Woodhouse J. Eds, Key Concepts in Palliative Care. Sage Publications Ltd, London: 49–52 CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • Beaucamp T, Childress JF (2001) Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 5th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford Google Scholar
  • Bregman L (2010) Religion, Death and Dying. Vol 3. ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara: 8 Google Scholar
  • Brown C (2005) Hope and quality of life in hospice patients with cancer. Master's thesis, University of South Florida Google Scholar
  • Buckley J, (2002) Holism and a health-promoting approach to palliative care. Int J Palliat Nurs 8(10): 505–8 LinkGoogle Scholar
  • Cancer Action Team (2007) Holistic common assessment of supportive and palliative care needs for adults with cancer: assessment guidance. Department of Health, London Google Scholar
  • Cobb M, (2008) Spiritual care. In: Lloyd-Williams M. Ed, Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Care. 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford: 198 CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • Department of Health (1991) Patient's charter. Department of Health, London Google Scholar
  • Department of Health (2008) End of life care strategy: promoting high quality care for all adults at the end of life. Department of Health, London Google Scholar
  • Doyle D, Hanks G, Nathan C, Calman K, eds (2005) Oxford Textbook of Palliative Care. Oxford University Press, Oxford Google Scholar
  • Elkins DN, Hedstrom LJ, Hughes LL, Leaf JA, Saunders C (1988) Toward a humanistic-phenomenological spirituality. J Humanist Psychol 28(4): 5–18 CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • Farvis R (2005) Ethical considerations in spiritual care. Int J Palliat Nurs 11(4): 189 LinkGoogle Scholar
  • Fernsler JI, Klemm P, Miller MA (1999) Spiritual well-being and demands of illness in people with colorectal cancer. Cancer Nurs 22(2): 134–40 Crossref, MedlineGoogle Scholar
  • Firth S (2011) Cultural issues in palliative care. In: Baldwin M,Woodhouse J. Eds, Key Concepts in Palliative Care. Sage Publications Ltd, London: 49–52 CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • Frankl VE (1963) Man's Search for Meaning. Pocket Books, New York Google Scholar
  • Kearney M, (1996) Mortally Wounded: Stories of Soul Pain, Death, Healing. Scribner, New York Google Scholar
  • Kinghorn S (2001) Communication in advanced illness: challenges and opportunities. In: Kinghorn S,Gamlin S. Eds, Palliative Nursing: Bringing Comfort and Hope. Bailliere Tindall, Edinburgh: 167 Google Scholar
  • Kruijver IP, Kerkstra A, Bensing JM, van de Wiel HB (2000) Nurse-patient communication in cancer care: a review of the literature. Cancer Nurs 23(1): 20–31 Crossref, MedlineGoogle Scholar
  • Lugton J, McIntyre R (2005) Palliative care: the Nursing Role. 2nd edn. Elsevier Health Sciences, Philadelphia Google Scholar
  • Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute (2011) Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP). (accessed 28 June 2011) Google Scholar
  • Mitchell D, Gordon T (2003) Spiritual and religious care competencies for specialist palliative care. Marie Curie Cancer Care, Edinburgh Google Scholar
  • Mount B, Hanks G, McGoldrick L (2006) The principles of palliative care. In: Fallon M,Hanks G ABC of Palliative Care. 2nd edn. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Massachusetts Google Scholar
  • National End of Life Care Programme (2011) Capacity, care planning and advance care planning in life limiting illness: a guide for health and social care staff. National Health Service, London Google Scholar
  • National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2004) Guidance on cancer services: improving supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer: the manual. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, London Google Scholar
  • O'Brien ME (1982) The need for spiritual integrity. In: Yura H,Walsh M. Eds, Human Needs and The Nursing Process. Vol. 2. Appleton Century Crofts. Norwalk, CT: 82–115 Google Scholar
  • O'Brien ME (2008) Spirituality in Nursing: Standing on Holy Ground. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Massachusetts Google Scholar
  • Proot K, (2009) Living one's dying. An experiential exploration into constituents of healing in chronic and life-threatening illness. PhD thesis, University of East Anglia Google Scholar
  • Puchalski C, Dorff E, Hendi Y (2004) Spirituality, religion, and healing in palliative care. Clin Geriatr Med 20(4): 689–714 Crossref, MedlineGoogle Scholar
  • Randall F, Downie RS (2006) The Philosophy of Palliative Care: Critique and Reconstruction. Oxford University Press, New York CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • Saunders CM (1966) The last frontier. In: Saunders CMDavid C (2006) Cicely Saunders: Selected Writings 19582004. Oxford University Press, New York: 87 Google Scholar
  • Sheldon F (1997) Psychosocial Palliative Care: Good Practice in the Care of the Dying and Bereaved. Stanley Thornes Publishing Ltd, Cheltenham Google Scholar
  • Sugden C (2001) Total pain: a multidisciplinary approach. Scot J Health Care Chaplain 4(2): 2–7 CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services (2009) Care Management Guidelines, Terminal Care. www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0016/47050/Terminal_Care_Final290909_PCSSubComm.pdf (accessed 28 June 2011) Google Scholar
  • Thomas K (2003) Caring for the Dying at Home. Radcliffe Publishing Ltd, Abingdon Google Scholar
  • Tuner-Stokes L, Higgins B (2009) Concise guidance to good practice: advance care planning. National guidance, no 12. Royal College of Physicians, London Google Scholar
  • Twycross R (1995) Introducing Palliative Care. Radcliffe Medical Press Ltd, Abingdon Google Scholar
  • Watson M, Lucas C, Hoy A, Wells J, eds (2010) Oxford Handbook of Palliative Care. 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • WHO (2005) WHO definition of palliative care. www.who.int/cancer/palliative/definition/en/(accessed 28 June 2011) Google Scholar
  • Woodhouse J, (2011) Communication. In: Baldwin M,Woodhouse J. Eds, Key Concepts in Palliative Care: Sage Publications Ltd, London: 36–40 CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • Wright SG (2005) Reflections on Spirituality and Health. Whurr Publishers, Ltd, London: 3 CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • Yurkovich N (2004) Difference between palliative care and hospice. www.clubrunner.ca/Data/5040/765/HTML/13085//Difference%20between%20Palliative%20care%20and%20Hospice.pdf (accessed 28 June 2011) Google Scholar

This website is intended for healthcare professionals