Akram Heidari1, Abdolhasan Kazemi2, Mohammad Abbasi1, Seyed Hasan Adeli1,3, Hoda Ahmari Tehran1, Narges Eskandari1, Morteza Heidari1, Zohre Khalajinia1, Sadegh Yoosefee1,4. 1. Spiritual Health Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom 3716987366, Qom, Iran. 2. Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5166614766, East Azerbaijan, Iran. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom 3736175513, Qom, Iran. 4. Neuroscience Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom 3716993456, Qom, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Spirituality is recognized as an important issue in health care, and every individual has spiritual needs. Despite increased knowledge about spiritual care and its necessity, there is no unique agreed-upon framework for spiritual care among the practitioners. This study aimed to explore the concept from the viewpoint of both health-care providers and patients within the Iranian social, cultural and overall contexts and present a charter for providing spiritual care. METHODS: The first phase of the study was a systematic literature review. The next phase consisted of two qualitative studies on the components of spiritual care from the perspective of healthcare providers and its dimensions as perceived by patients. The findings were then integrated to make up a charter draft that was accredited through expert opinion. RESULTS: The review of literatures led to the identification of two main themes and 10 themes. Perspectives of health-care providers were categorized into four main themes and 10 themes, and patients' opinions were classified into three main themes and 11 themes. The themes and their subthemes were integrated to build the concepts and form the proposed charter with 30 statements. CONCLUSION: The charter of spiritual care for patients is intended to present an agreed-upon framework for spiritual care delivery and resolve some of the problems in this path. This can improve health-care delivery system.
BACKGROUND: Spirituality is recognized as an important issue in health care, and every individual has spiritual needs. Despite increased knowledge about spiritual care and its necessity, there is no unique agreed-upon framework for spiritual care among the practitioners. This study aimed to explore the concept from the viewpoint of both health-care providers and patients within the Iranian social, cultural and overall contexts and present a charter for providing spiritual care. METHODS: The first phase of the study was a systematic literature review. The next phase consisted of two qualitative studies on the components of spiritual care from the perspective of healthcare providers and its dimensions as perceived by patients. The findings were then integrated to make up a charter draft that was accredited through expert opinion. RESULTS: The review of literatures led to the identification of two main themes and 10 themes. Perspectives of health-care providers were categorized into four main themes and 10 themes, and patients' opinions were classified into three main themes and 11 themes. The themes and their subthemes were integrated to build the concepts and form the proposed charter with 30 statements. CONCLUSION: The charter of spiritual care for patients is intended to present an agreed-upon framework for spiritual care delivery and resolve some of the problems in this path. This can improve health-care delivery system.