Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Few studies have examined the spiritual environment of parents of children receiving palliative care in Southern European countries, which are mostly characterized by secularization (or the abandonment of traditional religiosity) and an increase of cultural and religious diversit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Palliative Care |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01345-2 |
| _version_ | 1797272852178665472 |
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| author | Pau Miquel Ignasi Clemente Mario Ciccorossi |
| author_facet | Pau Miquel Ignasi Clemente Mario Ciccorossi |
| author_sort | Pau Miquel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Few studies have examined the spiritual environment of parents of children receiving palliative care in Southern European countries, which are mostly characterized by secularization (or the abandonment of traditional religiosity) and an increase of cultural and religious diversities resulting in a much broader spectrum of spiritual and religious beliefs. This study aimed to explore the parents’ own spirituality, religiosity, and philosophy of life in coping with the care of their child with palliative needs. Methods Qualitative interviews of 14 parents of children included in a palliative care program in a pediatric hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Inclusion criteria were parents of children who have been cared for the palliative care program for a minimum of 3 months and who displayed a willingness to talk about their personal experiences and gave written consent. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed by an independent service, and analyzed on a case-by-case basis using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results The three domains identified were life philosophy, relational, and transcendent. Life philosophy included principles that guided parents’ decision-making, and how the onset of their child’s serious illness had promoted a change in their values. Relational was focused on how they perceived themselves (e.g. motherhood), others (e.g. one’s own child exceptionality), and the way they believed others perceived and supported them (e.g. relatives, friends, and healthcare providers). The transcendent domain involved God-related concepts, divinity and divine intervention (e.g. a miracle as an interpretive framework for that which cannot be explained within scientific knowledge limitations). Conclusions Inflexible categories identifying parents as having a particular religious faith tradition are not sufficient to capture the interrelation of knowledges (ethical, religious, scientific) that each parent generates when faced with their child receiving palliative care. Clinicians should explore parents’ spirituality in an individualized way that responds to the uniqueness of their experiential process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:34:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cd792e130fad45bbb6bb005d10924f19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-684X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:34:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Palliative Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-cd792e130fad45bbb6bb005d10924f192024-03-05T20:42:54ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2024-02-0123111510.1186/s12904-024-01345-2Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative studyPau Miquel0Ignasi Clemente1Mario Ciccorossi2Spiritual and Religious Care Service (SAER), Palliative Care and Complex Chronic Patient Service (C2P2), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de LlobregatDepartment of Anthropology, Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)Spiritual and Religious Care Service (SAER), Palliative Care and Complex Chronic Patient Service (C2P2), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de LlobregatAbstract Background Few studies have examined the spiritual environment of parents of children receiving palliative care in Southern European countries, which are mostly characterized by secularization (or the abandonment of traditional religiosity) and an increase of cultural and religious diversities resulting in a much broader spectrum of spiritual and religious beliefs. This study aimed to explore the parents’ own spirituality, religiosity, and philosophy of life in coping with the care of their child with palliative needs. Methods Qualitative interviews of 14 parents of children included in a palliative care program in a pediatric hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Inclusion criteria were parents of children who have been cared for the palliative care program for a minimum of 3 months and who displayed a willingness to talk about their personal experiences and gave written consent. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed by an independent service, and analyzed on a case-by-case basis using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results The three domains identified were life philosophy, relational, and transcendent. Life philosophy included principles that guided parents’ decision-making, and how the onset of their child’s serious illness had promoted a change in their values. Relational was focused on how they perceived themselves (e.g. motherhood), others (e.g. one’s own child exceptionality), and the way they believed others perceived and supported them (e.g. relatives, friends, and healthcare providers). The transcendent domain involved God-related concepts, divinity and divine intervention (e.g. a miracle as an interpretive framework for that which cannot be explained within scientific knowledge limitations). Conclusions Inflexible categories identifying parents as having a particular religious faith tradition are not sufficient to capture the interrelation of knowledges (ethical, religious, scientific) that each parent generates when faced with their child receiving palliative care. Clinicians should explore parents’ spirituality in an individualized way that responds to the uniqueness of their experiential process.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01345-2End of lifeTerminal illnessSpiritual assessmentRelationalTranscendentInterview data |
| spellingShingle | Pau Miquel Ignasi Clemente Mario Ciccorossi Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative study BMC Palliative Care End of life Terminal illness Spiritual assessment Relational Transcendent Interview data |
| title | Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | exploring spirituality religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care a qualitative study |
| topic | End of life Terminal illness Spiritual assessment Relational Transcendent Interview data |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01345-2 |
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