An Exploratory Study of Spiritual Care at the End of Life

The Article in Brief

An Exploratory Study of Spiritual Care at the End of Life

Timothy P. Daaleman , and colleagues

Background Although spiritual care is an important element of end-of-life care, it is unclear how this care is viewed and delivered at the end of life. This study explores how health caregivers understand and view spiritual care for dying patients and their family members.

What This Study Found Clinicians consider spiritual care at the end of life as a series of interpersonal processes, rather than a set of defined roles. These processes include being present with the patient, awareness by patient and clinician of one another's humanity and perspectives, and cocreation by patients, family members, and clinicians of a wholistic care plan that maintains the patient's humanity and dignity in the face of death.

Implications

• These findings provide a conceptual framework for spiritual care at the end of life.
• Future research should focus on the appropriateness of this framework for enhancing spiritual care and the overall care of patients at the end of life.