Spiritual Distress and Spiritual Needs of Chronically Ill Patients in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Maciej Klimasiński, Ewa Baum, Joanna Praczyk, Monika Ziemkiewicz, Daria Springer, Szczepan Cofta and Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis
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Maciej Klimasiński: Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Osiedle Rusa 55, 61-245 Poznań, Poland
Ewa Baum: Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, ul. Rokietnicka 7, 60-806 Poznań, Poland
Joanna Praczyk: Mother and Child Specialized Medical Center, ul. Wrzoska 1, 60-663 Poznań, Poland
Monika Ziemkiewicz: Ludwik Rydygier Integrated Hospital, ul. Św. Józefa 53-59, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Daria Springer: Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Pulmonary Oncology, University Hospital of Lord’s Transfiguration, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, ul. Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland
Szczepan Cofta: Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Pulmonary Oncology, University Hospital of Lord’s Transfiguration, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, ul. Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland
Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis: Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Osiedle Rusa 55, 61-245 Poznań, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: Introduction: Spiritual care is needed in a clinical setting to improve the patients’ quality of life. Deep connection with another person and delight with the beauty of nature or art and (in some cases) with God are all transcendental experiences. They may enable patients to ascribe meaning to their life with a chronic illness, find hope and well-being despite burdening symptoms. The opposite situation: lack of inner peace, inability to accept what is happening, feeling disconnected from others is called spiritual distress. Objectives: The aim of this research is to assess spiritual distress and spiritual needs of a group of Polish chronically ill patients and find associations with independent variables in order to provide data for recommendations on spiritual care in Poland. Patients and methods: 204 patients treated at the University Hospital and the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic in Poznan were surveyed in 2017 and 2018 with an original questionnaire. Results: Over half of the patients felt that their illness was life-threatening. A little more than half reported that faith was a resource to cope with suffering. Almost all patients showed signs of spiritual distress, and more than half expressed spiritual needs. The intensity of distress correlated only with the severity of the disease. The most important predictor of having spiritual needs was recognizing faith as a resource. Conclusions: Spiritual needs are associated with personal beliefs; however, spirituality spans beyond the religious context since spiritual distress is unrelated to the level of religious devotion. Therefore, any patient with a severe chronic disease needs basic spiritual care, which includes being treated with compassion.

Keywords: chronic illness; spiritual care; spiritual distress; spiritual needs; spiritual wellbeing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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