When discussing spiritual and religious issues near the end of life:
- Clarify the patient’s concerns, beliefs, and needs and follow hints about spiritual or religious issues.
- Make a connection with the patient by listening carefully, acknowledging the patient’s concerns, exploring emotions, making empathic statements, and using wish statements. (View suggestions on what to say)
- Identify common goals for care and reach agreement on clinical decisions.
- Mobilize sources of support for the patient.
Pitfalls in discussions about spiritual and religious issues near the end of life:
- Trying to solve the patient’s problems or resolve unanswerable questions.
- Going beyond the caregiver’s expertise and role, or imposing the caregiver’s religious beliefs on the patient.
- Providing premature reassurance.
Lo, Bernard, Puchalski, Cristina et. al. JAMA, February 12, 2002, Vol 287, No. 6.
It is not the task of the health care team to give patients meaning, value or reconciliation, but to facilitate patient’s encounters with the meaning, value, and relationships at that are already present.”
- Sulmasy, D.P. Spiritual Issues in the Care of Dying Patients, JAMA, Sept 20, 2006