Chaplain’s Tool for Assessing Spiritual Needs, Interview Example

I conducted a spiritual needs assessment on my aunt who is suffering fro arthritis by conducting an interview by using the PEACE spiritual assessment tool.

Perspective: How do your spiritual beliefs affect your outlook on your current medical condition? Do you believe that your perspective of spirituality has changed after changes in health?

Since I am a practicing Christian, I believe that God does not give us challenges that we cannot overcome. I believe that I will overcome my illness because God has the power to heal and he answers prayers. My perspective of spirituality has changed since I experienced health problems. Although I have been a practicing Christian for a long time, my commitment was wanting, but the health problems have brought me closer to God. I dedicate a significant amount of time meditating and reading the bible to understand God’s will.

Expression: In what ways, do you express spirituality? Do you express spirituality through a specific religion? Do you express spirituality through daily practices such as prayer or meditation?

I express spirituality through many ways. I constantly pray, find time to read the bible, invite members of my church for bible studies and prayers, and when I am feeling well I ensure that I attend church every Sunday. I have also improved on my tithing because I believe that those who give are rewarded with more.

Adherence: How important is your spiritual beliefs to you? Do you believe that your beliefs and spiritual practices affect your inner well-being? Are there any spiritual books, symbols, or rituals which are important to you?

My believe in biblical teachings is important to me because I gives me hope that I will get better one day. Even if my health deteriorates, I believe in afterlife; therefore, I am not worried about dying. Such beliefs give me inner peace because I have hopein the future. The bible and the hymn book are important books to me and they are always at my bedside and I travel with them.

Connectedness: How would you describe your relationship with God or a higher being? Do you find support and strength in God’s presence? Has your relationship with God changed due to your medical condition?

I can describe my relationship with God as close and personal. Through prayers and meditation, I get a sense of fulfillment and the feeling of not being alone during trying moments. This close relationship with God has been a source of strength and support. It gives something to look forward to because the bible emphasizes the importance of having faith and hope. When my fellow congregants visit, I get encouragement from their fellowship because I know they remember me in their prayers.

Expectations: As a healthcare provider, is there anything that you would like me to do to ensure that your spiritual needs are met? Are there any resources that you would like me to connect you to such as a chaplain? Is there anything else that you would me to be aware of in regards to your spirituality?

I will appreciate if you can connect me with the chaplain during my hospital admissions. This is important to me because we can fellowship together and I can benefit from prayers and Christian insights from an informed person. I also want you to be aware that sometimes I pray by kneeling down beside my bed, and I may need your assistance when I am very sick.

Analysis

The role of spirituality in health outcomes has been researched in the recent past and results indicate that religiosity and spirituality enhance overall health of a patient (La-Rocca, 2012). The spiritual assessment interview went on well and I was able to get sufficient information on the role of spirituality in my aunt’s life. I got clear responses that answered the interview questions well. Additionally, I was able to understand how religious beliefs and practices influence the inner well-being of a patient. By using open-ended questions, the respondent was able to give unrestricted answers that reflected her experience with illness and the role of religion in combating the illness. In the future, I will select a suitable venue to conduct the interview. I conducted this interview in the hospital ward where my aunt was admitted, which is not an appropriate place for someone to disclose personal information such as religious beliefs. In the future, I will select a venue such as her home, which is a relaxing environment.

One barrier that affected my ability to complete the assessment tool is the wording and language used. I had to explain the questions to the respondent to make them clear. In the future, I will address this challenge by using simple words and phrases that can be easily understood by anyone.

The spiritual experience I had with my aunt was useful because it will enable me to better understand her spiritual needs and help in meeting them.teh PEACE spiritual assessment tool is comprehensive since it covers all aspects of a person’ beliefs and the role of these beliefs in their life. Through this tool, I was able to get my aunt’s perspectives on spiritual beliefs and how it affected her views concerning the illness. The tool was also important because it reveals the importance of spirituality to a patient and its impacts on their well-being (Saguil& Phelps, 2012). Lastly, the tool is important to a healthcare practitioner because he/she will be able to understand the spiritual needs of the patient and help in meeting them.

According to the responses, it was evident that illness and stress amplify the spiritual concerns of my interviewee. Spirituality and religious beliefs have been shown to enhance health and resilience against illness because they improve coping skills such as prayer and strengthen the belief that there is purpose in everything (Puchalski, 2001). This beliefs help in lowering anxiety and stress associated with an illness. Furthermore, religion offers additional social support through outreach groups. A patient will not feel alienated when they have such social support systems.

Religious beliefs also play a significant role in how people manage hardships in life. Faith derived from religious teachings offer a sense of purpose and direction in life. When faced with health problems, most people feel hopeless and helpless, but religion restores hope and gives meaning to life (Puchalski, 2001). Such beliefs are useful in fighting depression associated with an illness. My aunt’s Christian beliefs have played a vital role in her illness.

References

La-Rocca, M. (2012). FACT, Chaplain’s Tool for Assessing Spiritual Needs in Acute Care Setting. e-Journal of the Association of Professional Chaplains, 28(1).

Puchalski, C. (2001). The role of spirituality in health care. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent); 14(4): 352–357.

Saguil, A., & Phelps, K. (2012). The Spiritual Assessment. Am Fam Physician; 86(6):546-550.