Spirituality in Clinical Practice: Recognizing the Importance of Personal Values and Beliefs in Medical Decision-Making

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addresses the importance of values and beliefs in patient’s healthcare decisions. Relying on a holistic theoretical model that accounts for all aspects of the human experience, the focus shifts from standard healthcare delivery to exploration of spiritual values and beliefs. In the past two decades, researchers and healthcare professionals have juxtaposed healthcare and spirituality to broaden the domain of care and enrich the provider and patient experience. Evidence has shown the alliance of spirituality and clinical practice has the potential to improve wellbeing and healthcare outcomes. Interventions: In a public health setting, a cohort of healthcare professionals participated in three seminars designed to explore the role of spirituality and clinical practice. Methods: Participants were introduced to spiritual precepts, self-reflection exercises, a spiritual assessment tool, a digital platform for aiding death and dying conversations and a complimentary alternative method (CAM). The validated Multidimensional Measurement of Religious/ Spirituality assessment and the validated Faith, Importance, Community and Address (FICA) spiritual assessment tool were trialed. Results: Based on the post-test data collection for the seminars, educational content had a positive effect on healthcare professional perceptions of spirituality and clinical practice. Post-test data were scored using a Likert 5-point scale. The observation of a minimum one-point positive change was a primary goal of the educational content. Of the 15 pre- and post-test knowledge and confidence questions, the minimum one-point change occurred 9 times. A two-point change occurred five times and a three-point change occurred for four post-test questions. In addition to the positive data outcomes, at the conclusion of the intervention, key stakeholders were developing plans to create a permanent, employee spirituality awareness group. This result was in accordance with the project’s intention to create a cultural shift, which embraced spirituality in clinical practice