The importance of spirituality in caring for patients

Wattis, John and Curran, Stephen (2016) The importance of spirituality in caring for patients. British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 77 (9). pp. 500-501. ISSN 1750-8460

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Abstract

Key points:
According to the GMC, attention to spiritual issues is expected as part of a medical assessment.
1. Spirituality is hard to define precisely but it can be understood as what gives meaning and
purpose and a sense of connectedness to life.
2. Religion and spirituality overlap but are distinct and there are non-religious as well as religious
approaches to spirituality.
3. Serious illness and injury may challenge patients’ spirituality and clinicians need to be sensitive
to this and provide or arrange support as appropriate to meet their spiritual needs.
4. Training to address these issues is in its infancy in the UK, though nursing research has identified
key competencies than can be applied to medicine, too.
5. The present challenges in the NHS mean we need to pay particular attention to organisational
issues related to spirituality.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Editorial by invitation
Uncontrolled Keywords:	spirituality, spirituality in medicine, spiritually competent care.
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Schools:	School of Human and Health Sciences School of Human and Health Sciences > Centre for Health and Social Care Research
Related URLs:	Author Author
Depositing User:	John Wattis
Date Deposited:	17 Oct 2016 09:02
Last Modified:	02 Dec 2016 05:13
URI:	http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/29573

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