Religious beliefs vs spiritual care: a study about the perception of three people that suffered a serious desease

Identifier:  TFG:1863

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG1863

Authors:  Moreno Sánchez, Sara

Abstract:
Introduction: The religious beliefs or spiritual sort, in our society, is framed in the personal area and developed in the community. According to “Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas en España” the 69.3% of the population are catholic and only 10.3% are totality atheist, however, we have not found information about the needs and patients demands. With our experience in the clinical practices we have seen that the chaplain is the one who goes through the rooms giving his service and that very often, from nursing service, this service is given to difficult moments. Nursing theorists include the beliefs and values of the patient as a need and as a universal right. In this research we ask ourselves if the people who have suffered a serious disease, with their religious beliefs, noticed that it comforted them and if they have received support from nursing at this level. Methods: An exploratory phenomenological interpretative of the experiences lived by 3 participants from the community of Biblical Church in Tarragona was made through deep semi structural interviews. In the analysis of information picked up we used the Taylor and Bogdan methods and on the interpretation we used the Gadamer hermeneutic. After the analysis of the information it was identified the next categories: spiritual beliefs, the relation with the recovery process and the support and attention received. Results: The spiritual beliefs of the participants helped them on their wellbeing through their illness process. For the three participants their faith helped them to cope and face the situation. The resource most used was the pray and the support from the church members. The participants notice not receiving spiritual support from health professionals and one of them related to be judged about his beliefs. Conclusion: The spirituality can help on patient’s wellbeing through their illness process. The religious faith can be perceived for the participants as a resource to cope. Including the beliefs and values of patients into the nursing assessment can contribute to improve the wellbeing and the recovery.