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The requirements of hospital-based spiritual care for cancer patients

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aimed to discover the requirements of hospital-based spiritual care for cancer patients.

Methods

This study was a descriptive qualitative-exploratory research, in which 25 participants were selected through purposive sampling and had semi-structured interviews.

Result

The data analysis revealed 3 themes and 8 sub-themes including fundamental requirements (changes in the attitudes and behaviors of the healthcare team), structural requirements (inter-professional collaborations, a reference system), and functional requirements (religious-spiritual, pastoral, psycho-spiritual, and supportive-spiritual care). In this study, the received topics have been related to the spiritual care which can help improve patient care.

Conclusion

The results were added to the repertoire of knowledge about the spiritual needs of cancer patients. The results indicated that it is essential to get acquainted with the spiritual care requirements in the hospital and enforce them through inter-professional collaboration. Accordingly, the spiritual care program should be designed, implemented, and evaluated.

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Acknowledgments

The researchers sincerely acknowledge the efforts and contributions of the participants who attended the training centers in Isfahan, which are affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

Funding

This research was conducted with support of the deputy for researchers at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (research proposal No. 395255).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nursing & Midwifery Sciences Development Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

    Maryam Moghimian

  2. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Critical Care Nursing Department, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Alireza Irajpour

Authors
  1. Maryam Moghimian
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  2. Alireza Irajpour
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maryam Moghimian.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Moghimian, M., Irajpour, A. The requirements of hospital-based spiritual care for cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 27, 2643–2648 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4569-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4569-3

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