Spirituality among the terminally ill in a rural hospice program

Abstract

Rural populations are unique compared to their urban and suburban counterparts in relation to both healthcare mindsets and spiritual needs. Rural populations tend to be more religious, more accepting of death, and less likely to pursue aggressive care at the end-of-life. This research project looked at the utilization of chaplaincy services among a rural, southwestern hospice population. It also examined outcomes related to patient and family satisfaction surrounding spiritual themes. Results were compared to 1700 other hospice programs. Areas where there were significant statistical differences from benchmarks were highlighted. It appears that overall hospice satisfaction and assistance with feelings of sadness and anxiety could be related to increased spiritual utilization.