Current Topic:
Spirituality in cancer care
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Abstract
It is well recognised that the spiritual needs of people with cancer demand our attention, but all to often people’s spiritual needs may not be addressed until the disease is in the advanced stages or it may be overlooked entirely. Spiritual care may be perceived as simply the chaplain’s domain and while chaplain’s have an important role to play in addressing spiritual care, each member of the team has a role to play in being attuned to and indeed attending to the spiritual needs of people with cancer. The concept of spirituality is both an exciting and challenging concept because it is something that affects us all. Frankl (1986) described spirituality as the search to find meaning, an activity that we are all involved in, but may only realise when we are confronted with a life changing event.
This module will provide the reader with the opportunity to develop their theoretical and practical skills in addressing spiritual care. The reader will be guided to explore the meaning of spirituality through examining some of the key thinkers on the subject. The module will examine the many different forms of spirituality through exploring the major religions of the world and the multiple and sometimes less obvious non-religious expressions of spirituality.
The module will explore the concept of spiritual pain and how such pain can be expressed. Unless spiritual pain is addressed then total pain management may remain elusive (Kearney 1996). The spiritual needs of patients and families may not always be obvious and the module will help the reader to be more attuned to the cues that people express. The module will provide practical guidance to help the reader to address spiritual care in clinical practice, including dealing with challenging situations and accessing relevant expertise.
Some of the barriers to addressing spiritual concerns stem from the environment in which we work and from our failure to acknowledge our own spiritual needs and unexamined biases and so the module will encourage critical reflection. The module will enable the practitioner to be more sensitive and confident in addressing patients’ spiritual concerns, incorporating this important dimension in planning care and treatment, and raising the issue at multi-professional meetings.
References:
Frankl, V. (1986) The Doctor and the Soul. From Psychotherapy to Logotherapy. Random House. New York
Kearney, M. (1996) Mortally Wounded: Stories of Soul Pain, Death and Healing Scribner. New York
