The Determination of Spiritual Needs in Elderly, Hospitalised and Muslim Patients
Abstract
Background: Spiritual concerns are especially important for older people
and those faced with their own mortality. This study was conducted to
determine the spiritual needs and level of satisfaction of hospitalised
patients aged > 75 years.
Methods: This descriptive study included patients aged > 75 years who
were hospitalised in eastern cities of Turkey. Data including
socio-demographic variables and spiritual needs were collected on
questionnaires. The results were presented as frequency and standard
deviation.
Results: The patients comprised 53.8\% females and 46.2\% males with a
mean age of 79.5 +/- 0.3 years, and 81.2\% were illiterate. In respect
of daily living activities, 18.8\% were interdependent for bathing, and
the interdependent rate was high for instrumental activities. The
spiritual needs of the patients were defined as praying (96.3\%),
reading religious texts (96.3\%), attending religious services (95.0\%)
and being together with family (91.3\%). The rate of spiritual needs was
determined to be high.
Conclusion: When it is considered that spirituality has a positive
effect on the life hope of patients, spiritual care is more valuable
than many medical interventions for elderly and terminally ill patients.
Education and awareness of health professionals is important.
Arrangements should be made in hospitals for the spiritual needs of
patients to be met. Finally, more comprehensive studies are needed to
examine spiritual care and effects. Copyright (C) 2019, Taiwan Society
of Geriatric Emergency \& Critical Care Medicine.
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