An Exploration of Spirituality in Rural Women With Chronic Illness

Assisting individuals with diabetes in the COVID-19 pandemic period: Examining the role of religious factors and faith communities

With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, diabetes management has become more challenging than it has ever been. Studies on the management of diabetes during this time are required. Unfortunately, the lack of information on the potential role of religious factors and faith communities in diabetes management during the COVID-19 era prevents us from fully understanding the issue of diabetes management during the COVID-19 pandemic period. People with chronic conditions such as diabetes may benefit from some form of religious support from faith communities and their ability to cope could be fostered by some religious factors. It is unclear how religious factors and faith communities contribute to diabetes management. In this article, the authors examine how people with diabetes can be aided in the COVID-19 pandemic period from the perspective of religious factors and faith communities. Based on the studies identified, it appears that religious factors and faith communities play an important role in managing diabetes among patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spiritual Self-care in Stroke Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Self-care and quality of life challenges significantly affect post-stroke life. Stroke patients look for strategies to improve their performance and cope with their new situation. The aim of this study was to explore spirituality in self-care from the perspective of stroke survivors in the northwest of Iran. Purposive sampling is done on 15 participants through Semi-structured interviews of obtained data through conventional content analysis approach. Two categories of "spiritual self-care" as the main theme included "supplication" comprising subcategories of "worship and prayer", "resort" and "trust" and "religious beliefs" with subcategories of "divine providence" and "divine blessing". Based on results of this study, Spirituality increases motivation for self-care and adaptation, reduces stress and helps patiently manage diseases as realities.

Meanings of Health for Iranian Diabetic Patients: A qualitative study

INTRODUCTION

Health is an exclusive and subjective phenomenon, and one of the most important situations with regard to perception of health, arises when patients suffer from a chronic disease. This study was conducted within the qualitative research framework and aimed to explore the meanings of health as perceived by a group of Iranian diabetic patients.

METHODS

A descriptive qualitative analysis design was used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 participants among diabetic patients, who were admitted to the diabetes care centre of Tohid Hospital of the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran during a ten-month period in 2014. Interviews were transcribed and analysed through conventional content analysis.

RESULTS

Based on the findings of the study, three major health-related themes emerged: 1) the syndrome of the healthy body and the happy heart (physical well-being vivacity, satisfaction, and calmness of the mind), 2) life without compulsory limitations (lack of dietary limitations, No activity limitations, lack of social limitations), and 3) exalted spirituality (satisfying self and others, trusting God, remembering God).

CONCLUSION

Health care providers should consider the meaning of health in special groups, chiefly in patients with chronic diseases. It facilitates the development of appropriate programmes to improve desirable health levels among diabetic patients.

Development and Psychometric Testing of Two Tools to Assess Nurse Practitioners’ Provision of Spiritual Care

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of two tools measuring the frequency nurse practitioners (NPs) assess for spiritual need and provide spiritual interventions. Spiritual care provided by NPs has the potential to improve health indicators without increasing costs. Design: Survey design Methods: Concept analysis of the literature supported each item developed for the new assessment and intervention tools. Content validity was tested with six subject matter experts using Lawshe’s method of content validity ratios (CVR). Inter-item correlations further supported convergent and divergent validity of the items with 133 practicing NPs. Cronbach’s alpha supported internal consistency of the tools and subscales. Findings: CVR analysis provided data supporting revision of the original tools. Convergent and divergent validity were also supported for each item. Both the assessment and intervention tools had high Cronbach’s alpha’s that met the required 0.70 for the entire scale and subscales. Conclusions: Both tools and their subscales showed evidence of validity and reliability. Continued research to refine the tools is needed. Implications: The tools can be valuable for assessing NP practice regarding spiritual care within relationship-based and patient centered care.

The role of spirituality in coping with the demands of the hospital culture amongst fourth-year nursing students

The aim of this research was to describe the role of spirituality in coping with the demands of the hospital culture amongst fourth-year nursing students. Qualitative, descriptive, hermeneutic interpretive research was done. A case study of 14 female Canadian nursing students was asked to write an essay on their experiences of the demands of the hospital culture. Content analysis was used and positive psychology served as the interpretive lens. Trustworthiness and ethicality were ensured. The findings indicated that although the nursing students expressed themselves in religious and spiritual words, they did not significantly illustrate the theoretically associated intra-, interpersonal and sacred behaviours to be referred to as being spiritual in their experience as a care giver in the hospital culture. They also did not illustrate behaviours linked to other positive psychology constructs such as sense of coherence, resilience, engagement or emotional intelligence. Rather, the nursing students experienced identity crises. Recommendations for the inclusion of mentoring in the curriculum of nursing students were formulated.

Review article: addressing the sexual health of patients with COPD: the needs of the patient and implications for health care professionals

Sexual expression is an important part of our individual identity and yet, this area is rarely addressed by health professionals. This article will explore the possible reasons for this and will also demonstrate the importance of assessing sexuality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).