Journal Article

Spiritual Needs in Health Care Settings: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of Clients' Perspectives

Hodge, David R., Horvath, Violet E.

2011

Overview

Spiritual needs often emerge in the context of receiving health or behavioral health services. Yet, despite the prevalence and salience of spiritual needs in service provision, clients often report their spiritual needs are inadequately addressed. In light of research suggesting that most social workers have received minimal training in identifying spiritual needs, this study uses a qualitative meta-synthesis (N = 11 studies) to identify and describe clients' perceptions of their spiritual needs in health care settings. The results revealed six interrelated themes: (1) meaning, purpose, and hope; (2) relationship with God; (3) spiritual practices; (4) religious obligations; (5) interpersonal connection; and (6) professional staff interactions. The implications of the findings are discussed as they intersect social work practice and education.

• Publisher: NASW PRESS,Oxford University Press,National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• Subject: Adult / Behavioral health care / Behavioral medicine / Behavioural medicine / Cancer / Caseworker Approach / Christianity / Client Characteristics (Human Services) / Clients / Conceptualization / God / Health behavior / Health Services / Hospitals / Humans / Mental health services / Musical motives / Muslims / Needs / Needs Assessment / Patient Preference / Practice / Professional Personnel / Professional practice / Professional training / Protestantism / Psychiatric hospitals / Psychiatric Services / Psychotherapy / Qualitative Research / Religion / Religious Factors / Salience / Social case work / Social Work / Social workers / Spiritual belief systems / Spirituality / Synthesis / Systematic review / United States