The Spirituality of Children with Chronic Conditions:A Qualitative Meta-synthesis

Problem: For an increasing group of children with chronic conditions worldwide, there is growing evidence that spiritual care fromhealthcare professionals is important to help themcope with illness and disability. As there is yet little known of which needs should be addressed with this pediatric spiritual care, this synthesis of the literature aims to clarify these needs. Eligibility criteria: all nursing, education and psychology peer-reviewed research studies, published in English between 2000 and 2017, focussing on spirituality or spiritual needs of children between 0 and 18 years old with a physical chronic condition, from their own perspectivewere eligible. Sample: Twenty articles of whichwere two reviews and eighteen single studies were included reporting on children between 0 and 21 years. Included chronic conditionswere type 1 diabetes mellitus, Duchene muscular dystrophy, HIV/aids, asthma, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis and cancer. Results: Children's spirituality seemed to be shaped by a search for identity focusing on normalcy and expressed their beliefs mainly in their relationship with a supportive God, using mostly religious language. Relational aspects, contextual aspects and spiritual/religious coping can generate spiritual issues or needs which influence health and adjustment to livingwith chronic conditions. Conclusions: Spirituality is an integral aspect of life and child development, requiring spiritual care from healthcare professionals when children face a physical chronic condition. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.