Title

"All My Saints Are Within Me": Expressions of End-of-Life Spirituality

Publication Date

6-1-2013

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Objective: With spirituality being one of the most important components of end-of-life (EOL) care, this study explored the oral responses of 44 dying persons who expressed spirituality. Method: Four identified spiritual themes: religious systems of beliefs and values, life meaning, purpose and connections with others, nonreligious systems of beliefs and values, and metaphysical or transcendental phenomena served as a framework for a content analysis of 91 spiritual references. Results: From the content analysis, eight interrelated and separate themes emerged. Although the highest number of responses centered on religious beliefs and values, nonreligious beliefs and values that included reason, dignity, mental discipline, and communion were expressed. The themes of life meaning, purpose, and connections with others also surfaced as important aspects of EOL spirituality. Significance of results: The findings support the need for hospice/palliative care professionals to approach spirituality from other than a Judeo-Christian viewpoint, help dying persons create meaning and purpose within the context of their lives, and assist them in their desire for connectedness to faith communities and other significant individuals in their lives.

Publication Title

Palliative & Supportive Care

Volume

11

Issue

3

First Page

191

Last Page

198

DOI

10.1017/S1478951512000235

Publisher Policy

pre-print, post-print, publisher's pdf for IRs with 12 month embargo

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