Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Iceland, Saemundargötu 2, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Support Care Cancer. 2013 May;21(5):1445-51. doi: 10.1007/s00520-012-1690-6. Epub 2013 Jan 4.
Spirituality is one of the main aspects of palliative care. The concept is multidimensional and encompasses the existential realm as well as value-based and religious considerations. The aim of this study was to explore spirituality from the perspective of persons receiving palliative care and examine their experience of spirituality and its influence on their lives and well-being.
Qualitative interviews were conducted with ten persons receiving palliative care from Palliative Care Services in Iceland. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and analysed. The study is in the field of practical theology and used the theoretical approach of hermeneutical phenomenology.
Thematic analysis found that the spiritual dimension was of significance for the participants who understood it as a vital element connected to seeking meaning, purpose and transcendence in life. Religious and non-religious aspects of spirituality were expressed including strong spiritual components of family relationships, the meaning of God/a higher being and spiritual practices which served as a key factor in giving strength, activating inner resources and motivating hope. Nine of the participants expressed their spirituality as faith.
Spirituality was experienced broadly as an important dimension of how participants lived with terminal illness. Religious and non-religious characteristics were recognised which reveals the complex nature of the phenomenon. Faith was a significant part of the participants' spirituality indicating the importance of attending to this aspect of palliative care. The study suggests the potential contributions of theological approaches which are relevant for palliative care research and practice.
灵性是缓和医疗的主要方面之一。这个概念是多维度的，包含了存在领域以及基于价值观和宗教的考量。本研究的目的是从接受缓和医疗的患者的角度探讨灵性，并研究他们对灵性的体验及其对生活和福祉的影响。
对来自冰岛缓和医疗服务的 10 名接受缓和医疗的患者进行了定性访谈。访谈进行了录音、转录和分析。本研究属于实践神学领域，使用了诠释现象学的理论方法。
主题分析发现，灵性维度对参与者来说意义重大，他们将其理解为与在生活中寻求意义、目的和超越相关的重要元素。灵性具有宗教和非宗教的层面，包括强烈的家庭关系的灵性成分、对上帝/更高存在的意义以及作为赋予力量、激活内在资源和激发希望的关键因素的灵性实践。9 名参与者将他们的灵性表达为信仰。
灵性被广泛体验为参与者与绝症共存的重要维度。本研究承认了宗教和非宗教的特征，揭示了这一现象的复杂性。信仰是参与者灵性的重要组成部分，表明关注缓和医疗中这一方面的重要性。该研究表明，神学方法对缓和医疗研究和实践具有潜在的贡献。
