The concept of spirituality originates from the person’s belief in a higher force that guides or controls his life. Spirituality means different things for different people, and it is very difficult to define it accurately. As Teihard de Chardin would say- ‘We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.’ Spirituality is the basis of a person’s relationship with oneself and with others. It dictates the way a person leads his life and views the world. Most religions in this world believe in the spirit or the soul. Spirit is an invisible part of once existence and is believed to connect human beings, with the source of life. The concept of health is in some complicated way related to the well being of the spirit. Different communities and religions in the world, have their own unique way of identifying the spirit and connecting to the supreme power that guides them. The concept of religion has taken its foundation in spirituality. Religion defines the particular belief system of a certain group of people. Ritual and prayers are important part of the religion. (Sheldrake, 2010)
The major religions in the world are: Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. The religion may help to fulfill the persons spiritual need. Very often, health care fails to recognize and respect the spiritual needs of a patient. Spirituality provides meaning to a person’s life and helps him/her find strength in times of crises or death. It is a very important requirement in times of illness. Spiritualty also affects a person’s sense of security and guides his actions and thoughts. (Pesut, Fowler, Taylor, Reimer-Kirkham, & Sawatzky, 2008)
The health care concept of compassionate care, originates from the concept of spirituality. Health care practices that are based on the spiritual foundation of care, is in no way a contradiction to science. Though science may be incompatible with certain superstitions that originates from religion, science does not contradict the importance of compassionate practice in health care. Allowing the person to be spiritually connected, helps reduce anxiety, fears and provides hope. This can have a positive effect on the patient’s health. (Sheldrake, 2010)
Body, mind and spirit are different dimensions of an individual and this can have an impact on his well-being. Obtaining a history on the spiritual needs of the patient and the family, would help the health care to incorporate appropriate measures to ensure that the spiritual needs of the patient are not ignored. Involving the chaplain in the healthcare team is one way of helping the person in this direction. An individual is not just the physical component, but there is also an emotional, social and spiritual dimension to him. All these dimensions can affect his mental and physical well-being. The origin of nursing profession was done in recognition of the spiritual need. Most of the early nurses were nun and followers of a spiritual denomination. However, with the evolution of the nursing profession, the recognition of spirituality in nursing profession has disappeared altogether. (Pesut, Fowler, Taylor, Reimer-Kirkham, & Sawatzky, 2008)
Incorporating spiritual understanding into once practice, will help provide better healthcare outcomes. It will promote the enhanced participation of the patient in the care process and better compliance to treatment. It will also help reduce worry and patient anxiety while approaching the health care. There are a number of studies that support the benefits of religion to health care. People who adopt a regular spiritual practice, have better coping abilities when faced with crises. Prayer is an important spiritual practice that was found to have immense impact on the person’s ability to cope with difficulties. Religious beliefs can also offer comfort to families who aggrieve the loss of a family member to the disease. Science and health care are slowing beginning to recognize the benefits of spirituality and faith. The religious beliefs of the patients can influence his decision making. Religion helps a person to acknowledge the fact that certain things are beyond our control. This acknowledgement can have an impact on the person’s attitude. (Sheldrake, 2010)
References
Pesut, B., Fowler, M., Taylor, E., Reimer-Kirkham, S., & Sawatzky, R. (2008). Conceptualising spirituality and religion for healthcare. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 17(21), 2803-2810. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02344.x
Sheldrake, P. (2010). Spirituality and Healthcare. Practical Theology, 3(3), 367-379. http://dx.doi.org/10.1558/prth.v3i3.367
