Publication year
2012
Citation Title
Spiritual needs and spiritual care for veterans at end of life and their families.
Journal Name
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Journal Volume
29
Issue Number
8
Page Numbers
610-617
DOI
10.1177/1049909111434139
Summary
Male Veterans with life expectancies of less than 12 months and nine of their family members completed a semi-structured interview to assess their spiritual needs, the spiritual care they have received, and their satisfaction with spiritual care. Both Veterans and their families expressed a wide range of needs including the desire for Veterans to better understand some of their military and traumatic experiences.
Key Findings
Many participants defined spirituality in the context of religiosity, while others defined it in a secular manner.
Spiritual themes included religious rituals, interpersonal relationships, support, and an opportunity to process guilt related to combat experiences.
Veterans had difficulty describing the impact of their military experiences on spirituality, but many noted that their military experiences positively impacted their spirituality (e.g., increased compassion).
Participants were very satisfied with the spiritual care received in the VA, but a few requested more frequent and longer visits from the chaplains.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide Service members and families a list of spiritual resources, including those offered by the military and in the community
Partner with chaplains or religious leaders to support the spiritual needs of military family (e.g., inviting clergy to offer programs or classes in the family program facilities)
Include spirituality as one component of wellness in their family education curricula
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support chaplaincy service Service members and their families
Recommend professional development for providers to learn about appropriate collaboration with clergy regarding spiritual care and end of life care issues for those they serve
Encourage the development of training programs for individuals interested in working with military personnel who are nearing the end of their lives
Methods
Patients who received palliative care at one VA hospital, had a life expectancy of less than 12 months, and had a family member or friend willing to participate were recruited.
Veterans and their family members were asked questions about their spiritual needs and care.
Veterans were asked about the effects of their military experiences on their spirituality.
Participants
Seventeen male Veterans and nine family members were interviewed (100% of participants were White).
The average age of Veterans was 70 years; 53% completed college, 47% completed high school.
Fifty percent were Catholic, 40% Protestant, 6% Jewish, 6% endorsed no religion.
Forty-four percent of family members were spouses, 33% were brothers, 22% were children.
Limitations
The sample was small and homogeneous; these results may not generalize.
Recruitment rates were not specified and could influence results.
Data were collected from only one site, which could bias results.
Avenues for Future Research
Develop a spiritual need and care scale for Veterans and other patients who have a terminal illness
Follow terminally diagnosed patients longitudinally to examine how spiritual care is associated with end of life outcomes and satisfaction with care for both the Veteran and family members
Explore the most effective means of providing spiritual support to family members of terminally ill military patients
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Spiritual care is an important domain of palliative care programs across the country and in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System specifically. This qualitative study assessed the spiritual needs, spiritual care received, and satisfaction with spiritual care of both Veterans at the end of life and their families. Seventeen Veterans and 9 family members participated. They expressed a wide range of spiritual needs, including a wish of Veterans to have a better understanding of traumatic events that occurred during their combat experience. Some Veterans reported military experience enhanced their spirituality. Generally, respondents reported satisfaction with VA spiritual care, but indicated that Veterans may benefit from greater access to VA chaplains and explicit discussion of the impact of their military experience on their spirituality.
Abstract Document
Attach