Alan B Astrow1, Gary Kwok2, Rashmi K Sharma3, Nelli Fromer4, Daniel P Sulmasy5. 1. New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, Brooklyn, New York, USA. Electronic address: ala9124@med.cornell.edu. 2. New York University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. 3. Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. 4. Wyckoff Heights Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, USA. 5. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Assessment and response to patients' spiritual concerns are crucial components of high-quality supportive care. Better measures of spiritual needs across the cultural spectrum may help direct necessary interventions. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess spiritual needs in a racially/ethnically and religiously mixed sample of hematology and oncology outpatients and examine the association between spiritual needs and perception of quality of care and satisfaction with care. METHODS: This is an observational study of 727 racially/ethnically and religiously diverse outpatients. Spiritual needs were measured using a validated, 23-item questionnaire, the Spiritual Needs Assessment for Patients. Scales were administered in four languages. RESULTS: Forty-four percent were white, 13% Hispanic, 25% black, and 14% Asian. English was the primary language for 57%; 59% considered themselves "spiritual but not religious." At least one spiritual need was reported by 79%. Forty-eight percent were comfortable having their physician inquire about spiritual needs. Compared with English-speaking patients, Russian-speaking patients reported lower spiritual needs (P = 0.003). Patients who considered themselves "spiritual but not religious" (P = 0.006) reported a higher level of spiritual needs. Higher spiritual needs were associated with less satisfaction with care (P = 0.018) and lower perception of quality of care (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Spiritual needs are common in an ethnically, religiously, and linguistically diverse cancer patient population but may differ by cultural background. High levels of spiritual need are associated with lower levels of satisfaction and diminished perception of quality of care. Training clinicians to address patients' spiritual concerns, with attention to cultural differences, may improve patients' experiences of care.
CONTEXT: Assessment and response to patients' spiritual concerns are crucial components of high-quality supportive care. Better measures of spiritual needs across the cultural spectrum may help direct necessary interventions. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess spiritual needs in a racially/ethnically and religiously mixed sample of hematology and oncology outpatients and examine the association between spiritual needs and perception of quality of care and satisfaction with care. METHODS: This is an observational study of 727 racially/ethnically and religiously diverse outpatients. Spiritual needs were measured using a validated, 23-item questionnaire, the Spiritual Needs Assessment for Patients. Scales were administered in four languages. RESULTS: Forty-four percent were white, 13% Hispanic, 25% black, and 14% Asian. English was the primary language for 57%; 59% considered themselves "spiritual but not religious." At least one spiritual need was reported by 79%. Forty-eight percent were comfortable having their physician inquire about spiritual needs. Compared with English-speaking patients, Russian-speaking patients reported lower spiritual needs (P = 0.003). Patients who considered themselves "spiritual but not religious" (P = 0.006) reported a higher level of spiritual needs. Higher spiritual needs were associated with less satisfaction with care (P = 0.018) and lower perception of quality of care (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Spiritual needs are common in an ethnically, religiously, and linguistically diverse cancerpatient population but may differ by cultural background. High levels of spiritual need are associated with lower levels of satisfaction and diminished perception of quality of care. Training clinicians to address patients' spiritual concerns, with attention to cultural differences, may improve patients' experiences of care.
Authors: Saneta Maiko; Shelley A Johns; Paul R Helft; James E Slaven; Ann H Cottingham; Alexia M Torke Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2018-12-06 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Mpho Ratshikana-Moloko; Oluwatosin Ayeni; Jacob M Tsitsi; Michelle L Wong; Judith S Jacobson; Alfred I Neugut; Mfanelo Sobekwa; Maureen Joffe; Keletso Mmoledi; Charmaine L Blanchard; Witness Mapanga; Paul Ruff; Herbert Cubasch; Daniel S O'Neil; Tracy A Balboni; Holly G Prigerson Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2020-02-08 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Tom Lormans; Everlien de Graaf; Joep van de Geer; Frederieke van der Baan; Carlo Leget; Saskia Teunissen Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2021-04-20 Impact factor: 4.762
Authors: Loai Abu Sharour; Omar Al Omari; Malakeh Z Malak; Ayman Bani Salameh; Dalal Yehia; Maha Subih; Mohammad Alrshoud Journal: Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs Date: 2019-06-24