Spiritual screening in community-based palliative care by the multidisciplinary team

Abstract

The provision of holistic care is expected across the multidisciplinary team within community-based palliative care incorporating the physical, the social, the emotional and the spiritual aspects of each patient. However, deficits in education, training and organisational definitions of spirituality can leave staff illprepared. In contemporary society the characterization of spirituality is moving from a strictly religious provision of care to a more humanist spiritual support which encourages an individual search for meaning. This broad spiritual discourse encompasses connectedness, meaning and purpose, compassion, hope, and forgiveness, while at the same time acknowledging that the individual patient contextualises spirituality for themselves. Education regarding spirituality, spiritual care, and spiritual screening is vital for the professional development of the multidisciplinary team. In true hermeneutic phenomenological style, Connecto, a spiritual screening tool rose from the research. This tool provides a lexicon of spirituality assisting identification of spiritual strengths and vulnerabilities, and places where referral to specialised spiritual support would be beneficial. Spiritual care embedded in everyday practice for the multidisiciplinary team members can improve the provision of true holistic care and bring capacity for professional and personal growth for the professional staff.